THE city is now ready to build its stalled P110 million modern satellite market in barangay Gibraltar., which saw several delays because of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to functioning as a marketplace for the trading of produce, the planned multi-storey building is also slated to house Baguio arts and crafts and local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The building, primarily designed by the City Building and Architecture Office (CBAO) under the lead of Arch. Johnny Degay, will have five floors plus a basement parking area.
Alongside the 231 total stalls for vendors, the building is also expected to house two restaurants and a souvenir shop in the ground floor, while the vendor stalls are to fill out the second through fourth floors, with the fifth floor earmarked for a commercial kitchen intended for use in training prospective MSMEs interested in entering the food industry.
According to City Planning and Development Coordinator Donna Tabangin, priority for the renting out of the 231 stalls will prioritize the current 125 tenants of the existing satellite market who will be exempted from the selection process.
According to Councilor Philian Weygan-Allan, the plan for a modernized satellite market in the area has been in the works since 2018, but was stalled due to circumstances including opposition to the project during the previous administration, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The construction of the Gibraltar satellite market was expected to start last year, but it was delayed due to the pandemic. Hopefully we can proceed with the construction as soon as possible. That is why our hands are full at the moment with all the groundwork. It is a tedious process, but we are making progress,” Weygan-Allan said.
