Councilor Paolo Salvosa announced that today’s public consultation will be the last for the Committee on Laws.
Salvosa has hosted two consultations to date, on November 7 and December 10, gathering stakeholders at the Sanggunian Session Hall at City Hall.
SM Prime Holdings was also called to become resource speakers at the December 1 regular session of the City Council to shed light on queries of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) market redevelopment deal and publicly disclose facets of the deal not covered by the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA).
Salvosa assured there are new angles and information derived from each public consultation which will be included in his committee report and will help in the Council’s decision.
The alderman said there might be other committees which will submit reports on the now contested PPP market deal, which was assigned by Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan to assure all perspectives are covered in the decision to be made.
SM Prime Holdings holds an Original Proponent Status (OPS) for the multi-billion-peso PPP proposal for the Baguio market redevelopment. The proposal includes a commercial mall area, ensures the new four-level public market remains city-owned, and features Cordilleran-inspired architecture and improved amenities.
Salvosa said his vote at the moment is undecided but said that one of the main demands he will push for if he votes yes to the SM deal, is to push for the return of a non-compete clause, ideally included in the agreement.
“Can’t speak for the others but for me if I say yes, definitely. That is non-negotiable if I say yes. For now, [I’m] undecided.”
The final draft of the Parameters, Terms, and Conditions (PTC) does not contain any non-compete clause, a provision that is supposed to prohibit the proponent from establishing businesses that directly compete with market vendors, such as a grocery or supermarket.
An SM SaveMore will operate within the market, which offers a wide range of retail and wholesale products, aside from fresh vegetables, and a meat, fish, and seafood section.
A non-compete clause assures vendors that SM will not sell products which will be in direct competition with existing wares already in the public market.
The City Council is now in the midst of a 120-day review period for the SM market deal, which started on September 10 and is set to end on January 9, 2026. During this period, the Council will decide whether to accept the project, accept it with revisions, or reject it altogether, sealing the fate of the public market. — Maria Elena Catajan