P12,000 reservation fee for Kasadya vendors ‘unauthorized’

WHAT unauthorized fees are being collected from carnival operators in the “Kasadya sa SRP”?

Acting Cebu City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas said some vendors reported having to pay P12,000 as a “reservation fee”.

Diwa told the City Council this was not a fee authorized by her office.

She said she has refused to issue special permits to these vendors participating in the “Kasadya sa SRP” unless they get back the P12,000 which they paid to the United Multi-Sectoral Coordinating Council of the City of Cebu (UMC4).

The UMC4 monitors the conduct of the Christmas fair at the SRP, which is on its third year.

CTO inspectors are also checking stalls. Those found operating without a special permit will be closed.

Anabel Zapanta of the Market Operations Divisions (MOD), who collects the registration fee and issues unofficial receipts to vendors, was already warned against the authorized collection.

Cuevas also said she already spoke to MOD head Raquel Arce on Zapanta’s collection of fees and the use of ordinary receipts sold in department stores on payments made.

“It’s now up to the legal office to look into the use of the unofficial receipts,” Cuevas said.

Cebu City Councilors yesterday asked City Legal Officer Jerone Castillo to investigate unauthorized collections from Kasadya vendors.

“Should we close our eyes on this? We have to follow certain rules and regulations in the collection of funds and payment of (stall) rentals,” said Councilor Gerardo Carillo.

Cuevas mentioned the P12,000 reservation required from vendors during the council’s budget hearing yesterday morning.

Investigation

Councilor Eugenio Gabuya asked Castillo, who appeared before the council to defend his 2014 office budget request, if a Private-Public-Partnership (PPP) initiated fair like the Kasadya would require a valid contract.

There are obviously funds generated and income. It does not have a contract,” councilor Margot Osmeña said.

Castillo asked the council to make a formal request for investigation so his office could look into the matter and render an opinion.

Osmeña said they will also forward to Castillo documents attached to an earlier complaint which Leonardo Noel Jr. raised against South Road Properties (SRP) manager Roberto “Bu” Varquez whom he accused of extortion.

Noel also alleged that the Lecian Carnival which he is brokering paid P200,000 reservation fee for their participation in the 2012 Kasadya sa SRP. The money was returned to them shortly after he filed his complaint against Varquez.

Cuevas told the council that the city has not been collecting any rentals from vendors during the three-year operation of the Kasadya other than the special permit fee of P7,200 and “arkabala” computed at P25 per day.

“What about the rental of stores? There are complaints that vendors are paying P3,000 to P5,000 in rentals?” said Carillo.

The Kasadya sa SRP opened on Friday with carnival rides, food stalls and dry goods on display in an open space located in front of the Sugbu building at the SRP. On December 20, firecrackers stalls will also be opened near its coastal area.

Reservation Fee

Cuevas said that at least three vendors came to her office on Friday to complain about the P12,000 collected from them as reservation fee. Payments were made as early as November 29.

The OIC treasurer said she called up UMC4 head Joni Chan and told him that “you are not allowed to collect because the city has no agreement with you.”

Osmeña asked Cuevas if Chan was the same businessman who earlier returned P98,000 which he solicited from a softdrink company after the planned establishment of a canteen and souvenir shop at the city zoo in barangay Kalunasan became controversial.

Cuevas, who confirmed Osmeña’s inquiry, said that she already directed Chan to first return all the reservation fees that they collected from the vendors before she will issue them a special permit to sell at the Kasadya sa SRP.

“We are just monitoring the vendors. Wala mi nag gunit sa karta. Naa na sa vendors association,” said Chan when sought for comment.

Chan also explained that vendors selling at the Kasadya have formed an association. He said that it is the association through its president Jude Eric Claro that collects a fee which they use in their operations.

As of Friday, Cuevas said she only issued three special permits to Kasadya firecracker vendors.

Councilor Noel Wenceslao also raised concern on the conduct of the downtown Cebu City night market which closes a portion of Colon street at night time to allow vendors to occupy the national road and sell.

He said that while vending arrangements are not clear, there is also a need to check if the road closure is authorized by the Department of Public Works and Highways.

“This has been done a long time ago. Why only question now?” said Rama when sought for comment.

He said that without the night market, Colon Street will again be without life.

Rama said he would also leave it up to the city council to look into complaints of authorized fees collection at the Kasadya since they have a pending invitation for Noel and Varquez to appear.

He said that the city government has nothing to do with the Kasadya operations which is more of a private sector initiative made through the UMC4./Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac and Correspondent Edison delos Angeles