VENDORS at Freedom Park and Warwick Barracks in Cebu’s biggest wet market, Carbon, are standing their ground refusing to leave the area for the Interim Market even as the deadline for their big move expired today, Friday, March 18, 2022.At City Hall, Mayor Michael Rama said the development of Carbon Market will continue despite the vendors’ refusal to relocate to the interim market.Rama said the vendors need to leave the area so that Cebu2World Development Inc (CW2) will be able to go on with their work.Rama issued the statement after vendors calling themselves the ‘Carbon Alliance’ remained adamant against moving to the interim market even after a three-day notice expired, Friday.“If it is in the schedule, then it must be followed. What is the problem? If they (vendors) will not follow what does that mean? There is an authority, what is the authority, the City Government and the contract,” Rama said in an interview with reporters.Rama pointed out that the joint venture agreement (JVA) entered into by the Cebu City Government and Megawide Construction Corporation will only stop if the court declares their contract invalid.In 2020, Megawide subsidiary Cebu2World Development, Inc. won the 50-year contract to construct and operate the Carbon Market District.“Unless there is a court order stopping the Megawide project, that cannot be stopped. The contract is not invalid unless declared invalid by the Court,” Rama said.The Market Authority headed by City Administrator Suzzane Ardosa had sent a notice to an estimated 700 stall holders at Warwick Barracks and Freedom Park and hundreds of ambulant vendors last March 16 that they only have until March 18 to sell their wares in that area.Earlier, a seven-day notice was also served on the vendors last March 8.Erwin Gok-ong, chairman of the Cebu Market Vendors Development Cooperative (CEMVEDCO) said while they are not against the modernization of Carbon Market, they oppose its privatization as this will result to increased rentals under the JVA.Carbonhanong Alyansa spokesperson Anne Ariosa called on Rama to face their group to explain to them the ‘curative measures’ that Rama had promised the vendors.Ariosa said the vendors will continue to refuse to vacate the area since they will be moved to the second floor of the market where there will be fewer sales and smaller stalls.They also want to know the size of their stalls in the new market that will be built in Warwick and Freedom Park.