BAGUIO CITY – With billions in time deposit accounts, the city government is now capable to undertake, on its own, the development of the city market.
In an engagement with some residents in Barangay Fairview, former congressman and mayor Mauricio Domogan said compared to the market development project in the mid-1990s, the city government now has enough funds to realize the aspiration of every resident of Baguio – to have a modern market.
It was during Domogan’s term that Uniwide was granted a design-build-lease (DBL) contract but a case filed by an association of market vendors stalled the development for over 20 years. In 2016, the Supreme Court ruled the DBL was valid, but Uniwide was never able to execute the development plan due to the company’s insolvency.
Thirty years since, the city market remains in its decrepit state. The current administration is planning to have the market developed this time through partnership with the private sector. The proposition is inching closer to approval.
Domogan said the general consensus of city residents is to have a modern market, but not in the way the current administration is proposing.
Domogan said the same model of development as spelled out in Ordinance 38 series 1995, should be followed, instead of the proposal of SM Prime Holdings, proponent of the market development project.
He also suggested for a graduated development to maximize available funds and so as not to displace vendors.
“Do it in three phases so that vendors may be able to continue with their livelihood,” Domogan said, noting that not all vendors can be accommodated at the Slaughterhouse market relocation site.
If the market development proceeds, construction will take about four years with all 3,000 vendors to be transferred at the Slaughterhouse and at various satellite markets around Baguio.
Vendors who attended a public consultation on Feb. 20 are apprehensive about their transfer saying there might not be enough buyers willing to do their marketing at the Slaughterhouse and instead buy at private stalls.
