The controversy swirling around the redevelopment of Baguio City’s public market is back.
As the election dust settles, the mayor’s renewed push for market redevelopment after conducting an inspection in mid-June seems like an intro to the LGU’s usual push for a public-private partnership (PPP) with SM Holdings to modernize the palengke. Reeks of soft power, Baguio style. Once again, the LGU is setting the stage for what has long felt like a foregone conclusion, despite repeated and intense public resistance.
Originally introduced in 2019, the market redevelopment plan envisioned a seven-story structure complete with retail floors and underground parking. Through a public consultation in July 2020, residents criticized proposals favoring deep-pocketed corporations intertwined with the government.
Robinsons and SM Prime both submitted bids, and despite vocal public discomfort, SM secured Original Proponent Status by October 2020. Councilor Mylen Yaranon, along with grassroots groups like Tongtongan Ti Umili and vendor cooperatives, raised the alarm, branding the plan as “privatization by another name.” While the mayor defended the process as transparent, echoing municipal procedures, the opacity of negotiations involving closed-door technical documents, and only a few essential details shared has left many unconvinced.
During the leaders’ forum at Baguio Country Club, Magalong appeared to heed public sentiment. He backtracked, promising to halt private involvement pending vendor and citizen approval. But now, post-election, there appears to be a sweep back to his original PPP agenda.
This flip-flopping speaks to larger questions of congestion, pollution, and sustainability. An eight-level parking structure will not only reshape the skyline; it will invite more cars into Baguio’s already cramped core.
With traffic already choking Session Road and city streets littered with pollutants, does this plan reflect the city’s “commitment” to the Sustainable Development Goals? Hardly. Crowding the market area with vehicles conflicts with the LGU’s promises to improve walkability and reduce the city’s carbon footprint.
Yet vested interests cheer on, regardless.
That’s the rub: trust turns brittle when politicians blow hot and cold. During the June 17 market inspection, the mayor lamented the clogged drains, foul odors, and animal waste. His words paint urgency, yet the redevelopment plan the LGU is pushing for would uproot a cultural landmark in favor of a soulless modern edifice.
When city leaders waltz with private firms under the umbrella of technocratic “viability,” they overlook the real-world impacts of their decisions: fewer or uncertain livelihoods for small vendors, more traffic and noise for residents, and a public space drifting toward commercial exclusivity.
Baguio deserves better than market-for-mall trade-offs. The city should commit to phased public-driven upgrades: fixing the drainage system, expanding pedestrian access, and upgrading sanitation. It should invest in public financing models, like vendor co-ops, small loans, and sustainability grants rather than leaning on mega-corporate interests. Or the city could just use its own money.
A marketplace shaped by the collective vision (not by deep pockets) is a true public space. Rebuilding trust means being consistent, transparent, respectful, and responsive. Otherwise, we’re left with clever façades masking real estate plays. Public consultations shouldn’t be held (and repeatedly in this case) just for show.
Baguio City brands itself as smart and sustainable, so we can’t afford half-baked solutions driven by parking space incentives.
