DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – Almost a year after they were relocated to make way for the expansion of the Negros Oriental Medical City, Tabo sa Provincial Agricultural Office (PAO) vendors are clamoring for the government’s open plan to relocate them amid loss of sales and security concerns.
Spot is Bisaya for a traditional Philippine market where farmers sell their fresh produce directly to consumers.
In July 2025, more than 200 members of the Tabo sa PAO Farmers Association were relocated from the busy EJ Blanco Drive side to an undisclosed location in Barangay Piapi, Dumaguete City.
According to Edgar Dagooc II, coordinator of the regional tab, the former compound of the Regional Agriculture Office, which housed the market since 2004, was demolished to make way for the two-hectare Medical City project.
Due to this, the Regional Agriculture Office and its nursery farm were moved to the Negros Oriental Perdices Memorial Coliseum, while the market was moved to the side of the Hall of Justice.
The market that was accessible now is placed along a three meter wide dirt road with little space.
Losing his place
The president of the farmers association Esterlita Mamac said the availability and lack of parking has been a big problem for buyers especially suki (regular customers).
The market previously served as a wholesale and retail center for agricultural products from municipalities such as Santa Catalina, Valencia, Sibulan, Pamplona, San Jose, and Canlaon City.
There are about 210 vendors but Mamac estimated that only 40 tables are available at the new site, forcing some to leave their harvest with other vendors.
He said this affected his sales which fell by up to 50% in 2025.
“Welcome to a fast shopping experience. Some just go home because there is no parking space,” he added.
(Customers now rush their purchases, or leave altogether if they can’t find a parking spot.)
Because of slow sales, vendors like 76-year-old Ceding Silorio said they have been forced to lower their prices.
“Because sales are down so much, so are we. Instead of selling it for P80, it is now P70 (…) There is still a request, P60. Down, to love,” Silorio said.
(Since the sales are down, we have also reduced our price. From P80, the price drops to P70, sometimes even P60, just to sell it.)
Apart from the immediate effects of their displacement, the vendors also raised security concerns due to the construction going on next to them.
Silorio recalled an incident in March last year when a metal pipe collapsed near his stall, shocking vendors nearby.
“They will still work tomorrow, they are always sad. We don’t sleep once because they work until 10 o’clock,” he complained.
(They also work at night, I hear voices. We can’t sleep because they work until 10 pm.)
Dagooc confirmed that no one was injured and said they collaborated with the Regional Engineering Office and the Philsouth Corporation to install the nets.
Transfer plans
In August 2025, Governor Manuel Sagarbarria he announced plans to permanently relocate the vendors to a 7,700 square meter area near Metro Dumaguete Diversion Road in Barangay Batinguel.
Mamac said vendors were informed of the proposal only in October during a consultation meeting and have not received a clear update since then.
“It is not known exactly where. We will only serve the governor and he will transfer us, no, because this is not for us.,” he said.
(It is not yet clear where exactly. We are just waiting for the governor to decide if we will be moved or not, since this place is not ours to begin with.)
Regional Farmer Emmanuel Caduyac confirmed that the transfer does not have a time schedule as the regional government is still negotiating about land acquisition. and process documents with the City Assessor’s Office.
“(The proposed permanent relocation is) a strategic location. Residents from Sibulan, Valencia, and Dumaguete will pass there when going to their homes from (the north). It is along the highway, so it is very accessible to shoppers,” Caduyac added.
Still, Silorio expressed fear that they suki you may not follow them to Barangay Batinguel, which is about four kilometers from the town proper.
“I prefer here (within the city) because we are not sure that Batinggue has a customer. We still don’t know what the situation is or if we will meet again,” he said.
(I prefer here in the city because we are not sure if we will have customers in Batinggue. We don’t know what the situation is like there or if we will see our customers again.)
However, Dagooc said the larger site could solve parking issues and attract more customers passing through the bypass from nearby cities such as Valencia and Sibulan.
“I hope this Batinguel area will be implemented because it is a big area there. So if they can be placed there, customers will have a proper parking space,” he said.
(It would be good if the Batinguel area was created because it is a very big area there. So if they are moved there, the customers will have a proper parking space.)
He also vowed to coordinate with the municipality’s agricultural technicians to develop the new area.
“Let’s start slowly until he gets stronger. We can use Facebook and social media to advertise the place,” he said.
(We will start slowly until it is known. We will use Facebook and social media to advertise the place.)
Selling at risk
When the permanent transfer of spot vendors are still waiting, 69-year-old market vendor Marcionilia Orcullo hopes the new location will be more accessible to customers.
“I hope that’s our place to move, it’s nice, not too far from the city. Those who are with them will come. because it is content, nothing. We farmers are not sad at all,” he said.
(I hope that the place we will move to is nice and not too far from the city. Someplace where people still visit. Because if it is indoors, nothing will happen. We, the farmers, are really sympathetic.) – Rappler.com
Kean Bagaipo is a Journalist and student living in Dumaguete City.
