The leader of an alliance of vendors at Carbon Market has denied allegations that organizations within the market collect up to P300 daily from traders. Jovelyn Gomez, president of Carbonhanong Alyansa, said the figure is inflated by lumping together various fees that are not mandatory.
Call for Investigation
Gomez emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to determine which fees are mandatory and which are voluntary. The issue came to light after Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival ordered the City Market Office to look into reports that some vendor groups are collecting large amounts, with some reaching P300 daily. The mayor expressed concern that if true, these groups might be collecting more than the city government's own revenue from the market.
Clarifying the Amount
Gomez clarified that the reported amount does not reflect the actual fees charged by associations. “The claim of P300 is exaggerated,” she said. She explained that the figure might include payments for scales, tables, electricity, and water services that not all vendors use. In her organization, members contribute only P20 daily, which covers operations, salaries for collectors, and cleaners in their area.
“The association has no power to evict a vendor who fails to pay contributions. Only the city, through the Market Authority, has that authority,” Gomez added.
Support for Investigation
Gomez supports the city government's plan to investigate the issue, especially if vendors are being forced to pay for services they do not use. She noted that if vendors were indeed paying P300 daily, the total collection would amount to millions of pesos each day. Therefore, they want to know where the money goes and who is holding it.
This controversy comes amid ongoing tensions over the redevelopment of Carbon Market under a joint venture agreement between the Cebu City Government and Cebu2World Development Inc. (Megawide). Despite differing positions among Carbon groups, Gomez stressed that transparency and accountability must prevail for the benefit of small traders.
