Don’t collect from vendors, Ermita told

Stop collecting P10 a day from vendors in Carbon public market or risk getting arrested.

This is the warning of the Cebu City Government to those tasked by Barangay Ermita to collect “voluntary contribution” from the vendors and establishments owners.

According to Executive Assistant Francisco Fernandez, City Hall lawyers and the City Market Authority had said that granting there is a barangay ordinance on the collection, the implementation was illegal and invalid due to the following grounds:

1. The payment, which was supposed to be made voluntarily, was allegedly made as a guarantee that the vendors will not be removed from the area.

2. Although they have submitted a receipt of their collection activities to the City Treasurer’s Office, the collectors reportedly have not issued official receipts to the paying vendors. What was issued were allegedly just tickets.

3. The collectors were not bonded personnel of the barangay.

With this, the City Government directed the Carbon Police Station to arrest persons who continue to collect P10 from the market vendors.

Fernandez said the City will file criminal charges against the barangay officials who ordered the collection and the collectors who implemented the order.

“Should they continue, we’ll have them arrested. They are not authorized to clear out the vendors. The City Market Code provides that all areas within the periphery of the market is under the jurisdiction of the Market Authority,” he said.

Sought for comment, Ermita Chief Felicisimo Rupinta said the barangay will continue with the collection activities since the income is what they use to pay for their maintenance and for their volunteer brigade personnel.

He denied that the collection was invalid, saying the tickets they issued were authorized by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

Rupinta also cried foul over allegations that the vendors were forced to pay the fee or their stalls will be demolished.

“There are 4,000 vendors in Carbon, If it was forced, we’d be getting P40,000 daily. We only get P15,000, which proves that everything is voluntary,” he said.

While he has no qualms about fighting a legal battle against the City on the matter, Rupinta said he will not allow the police to arrest his eight collectors without a warrant.

“They were authorized by the barangay, since I am the appointing officer. That’s good that they are bringing this to court so that once and for all, the right agency can interpret the law and clarify whether we have basis to collect or not,” he said.

The City will file criminal charges against the barangay officials who ordered the collection and the collectors who implemented the order.