The Carbon Public Market is the biggest public market in the Queen City of the South. You can find just about anything here, from meat to vegetables, slippers to shoes, and bags to souvenir items. Carbon Public Market is basically the place where you can find anything and everything you need. In fact, a good number of major establishments in the city source out their wares at Carbon. Many restaurants also get the ingredients of their menu items from Carbon while some groceries typically resell items they purchase at the Carbon Public Market.
Carbon Market Meat section – image source: courtesy of Peter Parcon
History
Aside from being the biggest public market, the Carbon Public Market is also the oldest public market in the island. The site of the public market used to be the place where goods are delivered by trains plying the old Cebu railroad. The railroad ran from Danao in the north and Argao in the south. One of the major products transported by the railroad was coal, which was unloaded in the area where the public market now stands. The name carbon comes from the term the locals used to call coal, which eventually stuck and was used to call the name of the place.
One of the major boneless bangus suppliers in Cebu – image source: courtesy of Peter Parcon
Bangus waiting to be deboned– image source: courtesy of Peter Parcon
Carbon Public Market is actually divided into three distinct units. All meat and seafood products can be found in Unit One while Unit Two has stalls selling all kinds of vegetables and grains. You can buy any type of fruit at Unit Three of the Carbon Public Market.
Different types of grains at the Carbon Public Market – image source: courtesy of Peter Parcon
Prices Of Goods At The Carbon Public Market
The prices of everything sold at the Carbon Public Market are significantly lower than the prices at a supermarket or department store. In fact, there are instances where the price of an item sold in stores in the city is twice as high as the price in Carbon. In other words an item priced at PHP 100 in a supermarket is sold at PHP 50 at Carbon.
Vegetables at the Carbon Public Market – image source: courtesy of Peter Parcon
More vegetables at the Carbon Public Market – image source: courtesy of Peter Parcon
Many of the major suppliers of meats and seafood have stalls at the Carbon Public Market. In fact, two of the main suppliers of boneless bangus in the city are at Unit One of the Carbon Public Market. These stall owners supply most of the major restaurants in the city.
Vegans will have fun at the Carbon Public Market – image source: courtesy of Peter Parcon
Fruits at the Carbon Public Market – image source: courtesy of Peter Parcon
While the best time to market at Carbon is early in the morning when most of the vendors start to display their wares, it is also crowded at this time. If you want to avoid the crowds, you can do your marketing just before lunch or early in the afternoon. A good number of carenderia owners typically buy ingredients Carbon late in the evening. At this time, the place starts to become lively. For the fruit section or Unit Three, many of the vendors typically cater to volume buyers. Only a select number sell by the kilo, which means if you want to buy fruits by the kilo, you may have to check out vendors with stalls outside Unit Three.
More fruits at the Carbon Public Market – image source: courtesy of Peter Parcon
Getting To The Carbon Public Market
Getting to the Carbon Public Market is not a problem since most of the jeepneys plying the roads of the city pass by the area. If you are not sure if the jeepney you are riding will pass by the place, you can simply ask the driver or conductor. For those who want to bring a vehicle, you can park your vehicle at the parking lot in front of Unit One. The parking lot is guarded by barangay tanods. The place is also referred to as “Barracks” by the locals since it used to be the place where the barracks of American soldiers was located during the American period. It is advisable for you to leave your expensive gadgets and jewelry at home when you want to buy something at Carbon. Even though there is a police station close to the area, it still pays to be aware of your surroundings all the time.
Unit 1 of the Carbon Public Market – image source: courtesy of Peter Parcon
The Carbon Public Market has become an icon in the history of Cebu. In fact, aside from being the best place to buy things at super low prices, the Carbon Public Market has already become a tourist attraction. Do you have any stories about the Carbon Public Market? Tell us about it on the comments section below.
Parking Area of the Carbon Public Market – image source: courtesy of Peter Parcon
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