Robert Barquilla, operations head of the Office of the City Markets, said the vendors who previously sold from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. along F. Gonzales, Plaridel, Manalili, and Magallanes streets have now transferred to a portion of M.C. Briones Street, which is called the Carbon Night Market.
This new Carbon Night Market is different from the old one, which was established as a downtown tourist spot by Megawide Construction Corp. subsidiary Cebu2World Development Inc., the company managing the redevelopment of the Carbon Public Market complex.
The old Carbon Night Market was located on M.L. Quezon Street near Carbon Public Market’s Unit 3. It closed down when The Barracks opened at Freedom Park on May 12.
Barquilla said the new Carbon Night Market is reserved mostly for ambulant vendors selling produce from farms, like vegetables, and other goods.
Some of the stall vendors on the second floor of the Carbon Interim Market will also join the night market to provide food options to night shoppers, he added.
Barquilla said the relocation to M.C. Briones Street aims to clear Plaridel Street and other entryways to the Carbon area from vendors, thus allowing smoother traffic flow.
Maria Pino, president of the Cebu City United Vendors Association Inc., said clearing Magallanes, Plaridel and F. Gonzales streets will not only allow more vehicles to enter but also free up space for parking.
Mayor Michael Rama’s goal is for people to visit the Carbon Market, rather than just purchasing from vendors near Manalili and Plaridel. The relocation is intended to encourage people to explore the Carbon market complex.
Despite the move to the Carbon Night Market, affected vendors will continue paying the same rates for the arkabala and other market fees every day.
Vendors are charged P50 for the arkabala, P60 for the market organization, P20 for the barangay and P20 for other vendor organizations.
The operations of the Carbon Night Market started on May 12; however, not all ambulant vendors have completed their relocation to the new market yet.(PAC, DCL)