CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — The silent protest staged by Carbon Market vendors has reached the attention of the Cebu City Council, paving the way for an executive session on March 17, 2026, to tackle unresolved issues surrounding the redevelopment of Cebu’s historical public market.
Last week, vendors gathered in solemn silence, carrying placards and standing in quiet defiance.
Their message was clear: fears of displacement, the collection of market fees by the city’s private partner, higher rents, and the loss of the market’s communal character have not been adequately addressed.
The rally also came after Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña filed a petition before the Supreme Court, challenging the legality of the joint venture agreement (JVA) between the city government and Cebu2World Development Inc., a subsidiary of Megawide Construction Corporation.
The petition alleges flaws in the contract that could compromise public trust and the city’s patrimony.
Councilor Sisinio Andales described the public protest and the legal challenge as twin signals of a deeper crisis in transparency and accountability.
In his privilege speech, he warned: “The quiet protests of the people and the loud legal challenge from the high-ranking official are not coincidental. They are symbiotic symptoms of a crisis of transparency, accountability, and consensus.”
He added: “We cannot address these profound issues through sound bites or piecemeal reports. The complexity, the legal sensitivity, and the emotional weight of this matter demand a forum of sober focus and confidential discussion.”
Andales urged colleagues to act decisively. He said: “The silent rally is a warning we ignore at our peril. The legal petition is a challenge we dismiss at our own liability. Let us fulfill our mandate as guardians of public interest and stewards of Cebu City’s patrimony.”
Councilor Mikel Rama, while supporting the call for an executive session, stressed the need for caution. As a lawyer by profession, Rama reminded colleagues that the Council must avoid discussing issues already pending before the courts to respect the sub judice rule.
“We must be sure that the topics of the executive session will not include issues and merits currently pending before any courts,” Rama said, underscoring the importance of keeping the Council’s inquiry within its proper bounds. His intervention highlighted the delicate balance between transparency and legal prudence.
The session will bring together representatives of Cebu2World, the City Legal Office, the Commission on Audit, the Cebu Port Authority, heritage groups, and leaders of legitimate vendor associations. To maintain order, only the presidents and vice presidents of vendor groups will be admitted.
The City Council emphasized that the forum must be sober, focused, and inclusive of all principal stakeholders.
Carbon Market, located along MC Briones Extension, has long been regarded as Cebu’s largest and a historical trading hub.
For generations, it has been the beating heart of commerce in the city, where farmers, fisherfolk, and small traders converge to sell their goods. It is more than a marketplace—it is a cultural landmark, woven into the daily lives of Cebuanos.
Past attempts at redevelopment have often sparked debate, but the current project, backed by a multibillion-peso investment, has drawn sharper scrutiny because of its scale and implications.
Mayor Nestor Archival has previously assured vendors of his support, opposing the immediate transfer of market fee collection to the private developer and reiterating that his administration’s actions must be guided by law.
Megawide, for its part, has maintained that the redevelopment will modernize facilities while preserving heritage, promising improved infrastructure and better services.
Yet critics argue that safeguards for fair compensation and cultural preservation remain unclear, and that the voices of vendors have not been fully heard.
By dedicating its March 17 session exclusively to this issue, the Council signaled that the vendors’ silent protest has not gone unheard.
As Andales reminded his colleagues, “We must look every stakeholder in the eye, hear their comments and fears, and scrutinize every document and timeline.”
| Written by Caecent No-ot Magsumbol
