Vendors won’t sell in 8 Manila markets to protest privatization

It’s a market holiday today in at least eight public markets in the capital.

Vendors in eight out of the 17 public markets up for privatization in Manila said yesterday they will go on a holiday today to dramatize their protest, despite warnings from the city government that those who will participate will be arrested.

Save Manila Public Market Alliance (SAMPAL) spokesman Ram Bautista told the Manila Bulletin that there are no grounds for arrest because vendors are not criminals.

“Hindi naman mga criminal o magnanakaw ‘yung mga vendors. Hindi naman sila magsasara, hindi lang sila magtitinda. Karapatan nila ‘yun (The vendors are not criminals. They won’t close their stalls; they just won’t sell. It’s their right),” Bautista said.

Mayor Estrada warned last Friday that vendors who will be participating in the market holiday today will be arrested, saying that the market is owned by the public.

Vendors of the Trabajo, Sampaloc, Quinta, Pritil, Sta. Ana, Dagonoy, San Andres, and Paco public markets will be joining the market protest today from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight, and a rally at the Manila City Hall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

However, only five of the eight markets will be participating in the “tigil-tinda” while the others will just be supporting the rally. They will resume selling their merchandise by noon, Bautista said.

Bautista said human rights lawyers will be on hand to defend vendors who may be arrested and to file cases against those who will prevent them from exercising their rights.

Masses and vigils will be held in the markets today. There will also be a noise barrage and programs and discussions, Bautista said.

Bautista said SAMPAL organized the citywide market holiday since Mayor Estrada left them with no choice.

The mayor didn’t stay true to his word in one of the dialogues that no market will be touched until the rehabilitation of the Quinta Market is finished, Bautista said. San Andres, Sta. Ana, Trabajo, and Sampaloc public markets will now suffer the same fate as Quinta market which was demolished last July 27, he added.

“Hindi na kami papayag na may matulad sa Quinta Market (we cannot allow that other markets be like the Quinta Market),” he said.

Bautista said vendors of the Sta. Ana Public Market were given until September 21 and they were assured that they would be relocated in the vacant lot behind the market near the Pasig River Ferry station. But only 150 stalls will be provided for the more than 300 vendors of Sta. Ana Public Market, he said.

The markets’ regular customers have been informed about today’s protest holiday and they understand, Bautista said. “Unawang-unawa sila kung bakit kailangang lumaban (They know. They fully understand why we have to fight).”

Bautista said that they are still pursuing dialogues with Mayor Estrada.