The Cebu City Government has earned over P3.1 million in just one month from the Colon Night Market, marking a record-setting revenue surge, and triggering renewed scrutiny over past operations and legal compliance.
According to the Cebu City Treasurer’s Office (CTO), the City collected P3,119,950 between September and October 2025.
The amount includes P516,000 in arkabala or daily vending fees, and P2,603,950 in special permit fees-collected for the first time under Mayor Nestor Archival’s administration. The special permit fees cover garbage collection, certification, organizer’s fees, and business taxes, now remitted directly to the city.
The Colon Night Market, held annually along the historic Colon Street-the oldest street in the Philippines-transforms the downtown stretch into a vibrant open-air bazaar. It provides affordable stalls to small vendors and draws crowds during the ‘ber’ months, serving as both a cultural fixture and a livelihood lifeline.
City Councilor Paul Labra, in a privilege speech last week, highlighted the sharp contrast in collections compared to previous years.
In 2023, the City earned P417,200, and in 2024, P523,590-both over three-month periods and without special permit fees.
Labra questioned why vendors reportedly paid similar rental amounts in past years, yet the city failed to collect the corresponding permit fees.
Labra also called for an executive session and the creation of an ad hoc committee to investigate the operations of the 2023 and 2024 Colon Night Markets.
Meanwhile, Councilor Pastor ‘Jun’ Alcover Jr., chairman of the committee on markets, has repeatedly raised concerns about the legality of the current night market set-up.
In his own privilege speech earlier, Alcover assailed that the Colon Night Market was operating on an expired road closure permit, which lapsed on 5 October 2025. He claimed that without a renewed approval from the Council, the continued operation was ‘illegal’ and ‘unauthorized.’
Alcover also questioned the role of third-party organizers and the absence of oversight from the Gasa Board, the City’s official body for regulating vendor operations.
He warned that the lack of clear guidelines and expired permits undermines the legitimacy of the market’s operations.
Mayor Archival defended the current setup with a private group, under an arrangement authorized by his office and the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO).
As the Colon Night Market continues to thrive, its financial success has become a catalyst for deeper scrutiny.