BAGUIO CITY – Concerned sectors in the city prefer the implementation of the proposed modernization of the public market be undertaken by phases based on the capacity of stakeholders instead of the desired large-scale build up being aggressively pursued by the city government.
Earlier, the city government conducted the seventh public consultation with concerned stakeholders to elicit the suggestions and recommendations on the proposed multi-billion development of the city public market last August 9, 2024.
In a random interview with a good number of the attendees, all of those who were interviewed support the proposed modernization of the public market as it is long overdue but it should be undertaken by the city government in close collaboration with concerned stakeholders such as the various cooperatives of market vendors that are capable of producing the funds for the said project.
They claimed that it seems that the city government is no longer willing to heed the snowballing preference that the modernization of the market be done in phases and not through the proposed large-scale development through a giant mall developer that would deprive the concerned sectors of their direct participation to the said endeavor.
Some of the attendees questioned the intention of the city government in conducting public consultations when the final decision on the mode of development solely lies with the Private Public Partnership Selection Committee through the so-called PPP scheme to pave the way for corporate private developers to take over the city’s market facility.
The concerned market vendors also raised issues on their possible displacement from their stalls and the possible increase in their existing lease rentals although city officials assured that there will be no displacement and no increase in rentals as it will still be the city that will operate the floors that had been designated for the public market.
On the other hand, some of the attendees challenged the city government not to solely concentrate on the economic benefits of the project but the city should also consider the social, cultural, heritage and historical value of the facility before pursuing the desired modernization of the city’s show window.
Earlier, the PPP-SC issued the Original Proponent Status (OPS) of the proposed modernization of the public market to SM Prime Holdings which is also being questioned for some legal infirmities.
Lawyer Zosimo Abratique, president of the Baguio Market Vendors Association (BAMARVA), signified the intention of the various market cooperatives in the Swiss challenge to contest the original Project Proponent although they still have reservations on why did the current administration abandon the earlier proposal to allow them to participate in the submission of proposals following their being disqualified on mere technicality, especially for not being registered as a federated cooperative with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).
He added that many of the vendors decided not to actively participate in the public consultations because of the alleged lack of transparency in the ongoing negotiations between the city government and the proponent simply because of the non-disclosure agreement that had been signed between the said parties as they are facing a blank wall in the said case.
At present, the proponent and the city government are now negotiating the crafted 34 terms of reference for the modernization of the market that ranges from the financial to technical aspects of the project.
In 2019, the city solicited inputs from concerned sectors that paved the way for the adoption of a comprehensive master plan for the development of the market which was a product of the consolidated efforts of the members of the technical working group that was created for the said purpose.
However, the city government suddenly abandoned the master plan for the reason that it did not have the funds to bankroll the implementation of the multi-billion project and it eventually offered the project through the PPP scheme pursuant to the duly approved PPP ordinance.
Under the PPP scheme, there are 19 steps that should be observed by the local government before the award of the market development project to the winning proponent, either the original proponent or the declared winner in the Swiss Challenge, where the city is now on the process of negotiations for the finalization of the terms of reference that will be subjected to publication that will be challenged by interested developers to exceed the proposal of the original proponent.
The city government is eying the completion of the processes before the conduct of the May 9, 2025 mid-term elections to guarantee the implementation of the market development project after the political exercise to ensure the presence of a new market after four and a half years.
The concerned sectors expressed doubts on the alleged insistence of city officials to implement the market modernization through the PPP scheme despite the presence of offers from cooperatives to undertake the said project by phases to ensure that they will have a stake in the market that they will value and treasure unlike in the case of private companies that are interested to preserve their interests.
According to them, if there are flaws in the system of operation of the market, development is not the solution because the problem should be dealt with by the local government directly.
Some attendees also criticized the city government for its alleged lack of direction as it plans to impose congestion fees for motorists but part of the structure that will be constructed includes two basement parking for the clients of the market that will encourage people to bring with them their vehicles when going to the market. Contributed article
