Vendors at Cebu City’s Carbon Public Market have asked Cebu2World Development Inc. (C2W) to postpone their transfer to the new market facility until March, despite the developer’s readiness to begin presenting the new building as early as December.
C2W President Manuel Louie Ferrer said the request was raised during a vendor consultation on October 1, as the company discussed its plan to begin moving vendors into the new facility before the end of the year.
The vendors prefer a formal transfer and grand opening in March because the period from December through February includes some of their busiest commercial seasons. Christmas, Sinulog-related activities and Valentine’s Day are expected to bring strong customer traffic and sales to the market.
According to Ferrer, vendors are concerned that moving during the peak season could disrupt their businesses. They also want additional time to familiarize their regular customers with the new location and make sure buyers know where to find them after the transfer.
The March schedule would also give C2W more time to complete the setup of the new market and conduct an information campaign for both vendors and customers. This could help make the transition more organized and reduce confusion once operations begin at the new facility.
Ferrer said C2W is nevertheless ready to showcase the new market by December. The developer plans to present the stalls, spaces and overall layout to vendors even if the actual transfer and formal opening take place later.
The proposed new facility is expected to have five operating floors when it officially opens. However, the final number of vendors who will occupy the building has not yet been determined because C2W is still waiting for the final vendor list.
The planned relocation forms part of the long-running redevelopment of the historic Carbon Public Market, one of Cebu City’s major public markets. The project is being carried out under a 50-year joint venture between the Cebu City Government and Megawide Construction Corp. through C2W.
The redevelopment originally carried a project cost of P5.5 billion. A supplemental agreement signed in 2022 increased the total project value to P8 billion.
The developer had previously targeted completion of the main public market building by December 2026. The new facility is intended to replace older market structures with a more modern setup while continuing to accommodate vendors and shoppers.
The timing of the transfer has become an important issue for vendors because their businesses depend heavily on established customer traffic. Delaying the move until March would allow them to take advantage of the Christmas, Sinulog and Valentine’s periods before making the transition.
The request also comes amid broader concerns raised by Carbon vendors throughout the redevelopment process. Earlier this year, vendors expressed concerns about possible changes to market fees and the impact of the modernization project on their livelihoods.
Previous discussions also involved assurances concerning vendor stalls and the continued role of the city in managing vendor assignments. The redevelopment agreement and its implementation have remained subjects of scrutiny as the city works with the private developer on the modernization of the market.
For now, C2W has indicated that it is open to the vendors’ request for a March grand opening while continuing preparations for the facility in December. The final relocation schedule will depend on the completion of preparations and the finalized list of vendors.
If the March schedule proceeds, vendors would have additional time to prepare their businesses, inform customers about their new locations and adjust to the five-story market facility before the formal opening.
