Vendors at the public market in Sariaya, Quezon protested the local government’s eviction order to will make way for the construction of a new market. Vendors received notice from the local government on June 15 ordering them to vacate their stalls within 30 days.

Local government data shows that the construction will affect more than 220 vendors. More than 100 stalls are currently being evicted. Meanwhile, half of the stalls are awaiting eviction.

The local government ordered them to demolish their own stalls in exchange for ₱10,000 this year and another ₱10,000 in 2027. Vendors said that amount is a mere token and entirely insufficient for a new start. They will be transferred to stalls behind the current market but complained each new stall is much smaller than their previous one, and peppered with bans and restrictions. “We will incur immense losses,” vendor Dani said.

Vendors said they repeatedly appealed and wrote to various government offices but received no humane response or action to date. The market association also said it fears confronting local government officials because of possible repression and retaliation.

The construction of the new market is pursuant to a local government ordinance. There is no information on whether a private company is partnering with the local government on the new market’s construction. Vendors called for the repeal of what they described as an “unfair and unequal” law.

From experiences at Baguio City Public Market, Carbon Public Market in Cebu City, and market construction projects in Iloilo City, new market construction projects have led to privatization, higher rents and poor management. Sectors in Baguio City succeeded in halting their market’s privatization while resistance at Carbon Public Market continues and is intensifying.