Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Consumers in Manila had a tough time getting food and other basic necessities on Monday (September 14), as five of the city’s biggest public markets shut down. Market vendors held a so-called market holiday to protest a plan by the Manila City Hall to privatize 17 public markets.
Markets were closed from 6 a.m. to midnight, and consumers immediately felt its effects.
“Ang hirap, walang mabili,” said one customer.
“Kulang kulang,” noted another.
Stall owners and vendors from Sampaloc, Trabajo, Paco, San Andres, Santa Ana, Dagonoy, Pritil and Quinita markets, and even sidewalk vendors from Rizal Park, Padre Faura, Pedro Gil and the Manila Bay area went on a protest march through Manila’s streets and converged at city hall.
The protests were sparked by the passage of Manila City Ordinance 8346, or the Manila Joint Venture Ordinance. The legislation opens the city’s public markets to joint ventures with the private sector. According to the legislation, such markets will be developed and upgraded with the help of private companies.
But according to the vendors, this will take away their livelihood.
“Bakit ganon, wala siyang awa sa amin. ‘Yung relocation makikita niyo kung anong klase, kung pwede bang maghanapbuhay doon. Parang kulungan ng manok,” said vendor Ding Torres.
“Papaano na yung mahihirap na pares namin? Kumakapit kami sa utang tapos gagawin niya private? Papaano na? E ‘di ang laki ng ibabayad,” noted vendor Loreta Habakon.
“Biro mo — kinder pa ako nagtitinda nako doon kasama ako ng mga lola ko. Ngayon ganito ganyan gagawin niya,” she added.
Last Wednesday, the vendors launched the Save Manila Public Market Alliance (SAMPAL) to intensify their call for the government to junk the Joint Venture Ordinance.
A few hours into the market vendors’ protest, Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada called for a meeting with them.
Estrada explained that there was nothing to be worried about.
“Lahat ng nagrarally hinaharap ko. Kung ako ang makikipag-joint venture, may proteksyon ang ating mga kababayan,” he explained.
“Di ko gagawin ‘to para maagrabyado kayo. Protektado kayo.”
Most of the vendors were still not convinced. But as they promised, they would end their and will resume their business by midnight.
