By By KN Porquia/PANAYsayon
ILOILO CITY – Days before the opening of the “newly rehabilitated” SM Iloilo Terminal Market, many vendors shared their woes — worried that they would lose their spaces, lack of clarity, and limited coordination from the Iloilo City government prior to its opening on October 30.
The Iloilo Terminal Market, famously called “Super,” is owned and has long been administered by the city government, but a public-private partnership (PPP) agreement struck with SM Prime Holdings allowed the latter to lease the market rent-free for 25 years, renewable for the same period, in exchange for rebuilding and developing the property. The deal and the entry of a major developer have left many vendors, who have done business there for decades, uncertain about their place in the rebuilt market and whether they can afford the rent and fees that the new management will demand.
Some vendors were told that they would have to leave the area outside the terminal market, with no assurance that they would be allowed to sell their goods and products inside the building itself.
The vendors interviewed, who requested that their names be withheld for fear of reprisal and losing their spaces should they complain, expressed concerns that the city government was relinquishing its obligation to protect those who rely on the Iloilo Terminal Market for their livelihoods.
According to one vendor, an official told them that the vendors outside the market were no longer the administration’s responsibility. This further raises questions as to whether it would be the city government or SM that would define the rules concerning market operations, access for vendors, rent, and other fees.
Another concerned individual, Manong Boy (not his real name) — a third-generation vendor who inherited his business from his grandfather and parents — said that his family depended on their stall as their only source of income. Now, he does not know where he will end up and whether he will still be able to sell his products since he was not provided a stall inside the new market and could not afford the new rental rates.
Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas previously stated that the market fees would not increase for a year. However, it is unclear if this commitment applies only to the rent or the arkabala, a daily fee paid by ambulant vendors.
A fish vendor said that there were more than 200 fish vendors who originally did business at the market, but only around 80 would be allowed back once it re-opens, leaving the unfortunate ones unsure how they would be able to feed their families.
“Malagyo-lagyo lang,” said a spice vendor when asked what they planned to do if they could not secure spaces.
She added that they will try to continue selling their products within the vicinity, but they are afraid that the new management would force them to leave and confiscate their goods at any time.
The Iloilo Terminal Market is one of the few privatization initiatives, carried out under the guise of rehabilitation, promoted by the city government through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). It is a clear example of how public resources are being handed over to large corporations at the expense of ordinary Ilonggos—leading to the displacement of marginalized sectors and potential increases in the cost of goods and services, costs that would ultimately be borne by consumers under the cloak of progress./PT
