Engineer Mark Jansen Pe, Senior Assistant Vice President for north Luzon of SM Prime Holdings with Regional Operations Manager, Rona Correa are set to appear before the Baguio City Council today, Dec 1, at 2pm upon an invitation by the legislative body.
A technical team composed of SM engineers and architects are also set to appear with the two executives in relation to the Public Private Partnership (PPP) of the contested market redevelopment.
Under the PPP SM market deal, a mall, market area, parking lot as well as development of open spaces will rise in the public market with a 50-year lease period.
Parts of the area will be operated and managed by SM while some will be delegated to the city.
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 city council is now in the midst of a 120-day review period for the SM market deal which started September 10 and ends January 10, 2026, in which decision to accept the project, or accept with revisions or reject it all together will ensure, sealing the fate the public market.
Protests have marked the review period for the PPP project as well as signature campaign
Councilor Paolo Salvosa said he targets to submit a committee report by Dec 11 after which, a decision has to be made by the local council.
Salvosa chairs the Committee on Laws tasked to oversee the talks on the SM market re development deal. Maria Elena Catajan