A decision may come before the year end for the market SM deal.
The market re development issue has been calendared for the Baguio City Council to deliberate on Monday, December 22 with a possible decision for the August body before the year ends.
In the last council session, it was agreed to make the decision January 5, 2026, when the council reconvenes after the holiday break.
However, Vice mayor Faustino Olowan will be on official business outside the city starting January 1 until 16, 2026 which put back market re development issue at the top of the agenda.
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.
Councilor Paolo Salvosa wrapped up public consultations two weeks ago giving the Committee on Laws enough material to complete their committee report and present it to the August body.
Salvosa has hosted two consultations on November 7 and December 10, gathering stakeholders at the Sanggunian Session Hall at City Hall.
SM Prime Holdings, former city administrator Bonifacio Dela Pena, City Legal Office as well as city engineers and architects was called to become resource speakers 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).
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 if the decision by the council is to be pushed before the year end, two rounds of discussions might be needed, meriting a special session.
Members of the Save the Market Movement will be present in gallery in next week’s session. Maria Elena Catjan