Baguio councilor, Paolo Salvosa, is set to lead consultations for the anticipated SM Public-Private Partnership (PPP) deal for the redevelopment of the Baguio City Public Market.
Salvosa said the tentative plan to maximize the 120 days is: “We will have an IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) in the first two weeks of October and schedule town hall meetings by mid-October. Hopefully, the City Council can decide on this by November.”
The 120-day review period by the City Council, following its successful negotiation and endorsement by the City Development Council (CDC), started on September 11, 2025, and is set to end by January 12, 2026.
SM Prime Holdings holds an Original Proponent Status (OPS) for the multi-billion 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.
The newly installed legislator said a massive information dissemination campaign is set for this week via the city government’s social media pages to inform the public on the salient points of the PPP deal, followed by a series of public consultations to gauge the “pulse” of the people.
“There will be full transparency. We will facilitate discussions with our academe, stakeholders, as well as our civil society organizations to have meaningful conversations. Gusto natin ang mga taga-Baguio talaga ang mag-decide on this,” he said, adding that best efforts will be made to have a final discussion in the city’s legislature before the Holiday break in December.
Regarding the sentiment that the city can spearhead the redevelopment of the market on its own, Salvosa said the scenario if this happens should be laid out to the people of Baguio. He noted that the IEC on budget issues, the status of the city’s time deposits, as well as where the city’s finances are spent should also present the pros and cons of a city-led project while showing the financial cash flow for the project and the city.
A group of creatives had earlier published a statement against transforming the century-old institution—the Baguio City Public Market—into a tourist-centric commercial space.
The statement said any improvements must be based on meaningful discussions with the main stakeholders: the vendors and marketgoers. They believe a “world-class” market should not be forced if its construction disregards the rights, wishes, and needs of its vendors and patrons.
This year, after a public consultation in February 2025, the CDC approved the proposal in principle. It referred the documentation to its secretariat for confirmation before its submission to the City Council.
The 120-day review period of the City Council formally began on September 12, 2025, during which legislators can approve the proposal, approve it with revisions, or reject it. By Maria Elena Catajan
