Former v-hire terminal in Kamagayan now a food strip

AROUND 70 food vendors are now enjoying the area that was previously occupied and used as a terminal for southbound vans for hire in Barangay Kamagayan, Cebu City.

The food strip was opened to the public on Saturday, May 6, 2023, a week after the v-hire terminal was closed.

Maria Pino, president of Cebu City United Vendors Association Inc. (CCUVA), said in an interview on Sunday, May 7, that they gave priority to the 36 vendors whose stores were torn down after the v-hire terminal’s closure.

Pino mentioned that other vendors came from the food strip located on B. Rodriguez St., popularly known as “Chibugan sa B. Rod,” while others are from the Colon night market.

The food strip, now called Chibugan sa Kamagayan, is open to the public daily from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Pino said vendors will eventually have to pay for the maintenance of the area, but currently, their fees have been waived.

“We still have to compute how much the maintenance fee will be. We will take into consideration the electricity bill,” said Pino.

In a separate interview Sunday, City Administrator Collin Rosell said they are giving the vendors an opportunity to earn a livelihood first, thus waiving any fees.

Rosell said the City Hall had instructed the Garbo Asenso Sumbanan Alyansa (Gasa) to organize the food strip in coordination with CCUVA. Both Gasa and CCUVA are vendor associations recognized by the Cebu City Government.

Rosell mentioned that while the City has yet to utilize the lot, the vendors can continue using the area.

The City Hall is still working on reintroducing a housing project intended for its employees, which will be built in the area.

Rosell said the City is considering a time-sharing arrangement so vendors can continue selling food in the area while the City starts working on the housing project.

The 7,000-square-meter lot in Barangay Kamagayan is owned by the City and used to house the southbound v-hire terminal for seven years.

The City Hall ordered the closure of the v-hire terminal on April 28 due to alleged illegal operations.