The end of the ride. Swept revenues, wiped out valuable heirlooms, and compelled demolition.
The demolition of Carbon Market, Cebu City’s oldest and largest farmer’s market caused vendors and stall owners from the Ambulant Vendors Association (AVA) to lose their potential source of income and struggle in terms of their financial means, highly affecting consumers from other provinces who rely on their sold products and services for rock-bottom goods.
Over the years, Carbon Market improved the vendors’ lives substantially. However, the privatization of Carbon Market, as envisioned by the project’s sponsors, GMR-Megawide, drew heavy flak on concerned netizens, especially nearby vendors, expecting its negative impacts on their livelihood. The education of their children, food on their plates, and the day-to-day basis of living is at stake, to think that demolition order was allegedly illegal because there was no prior notice and mutual agreement on both parties.
This just goes to show how social injustices continue to prevail in the harsh and bittersweet reality of the Philippines.
Modernization is good but not at the cost of the livelihood of people. It seemed like the hunger and greed of the private sectors, even LGUs for wealth and power reigned supreme— a pathetic disguise in the appearance of the new Carbon Market.
