Are Baguio citizens being kept in the dark?
A special session is scheduled for Wednesday, November 19, at Hill Station Baguio, for the City Council to discuss two items—the Rose Garden Market Encounter and the SM market re-development—again, behind closed doors.
The session will be a continuation of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) guidelines and the nitty-gritty of the contested SM Market deal, which is still under a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and cannot be made public. Another item on the agenda is the upcoming “An Enchanting Baguio Christmas (AEBC),” led by the Baguio Tourism Council (BTC) under Gladys Vergara as chair.
While the SM market deal is under an NDA, “An Enchanting Christmas in Baguio” is under no agreement of secrecy but was included in the closed-door session after the BTC was a no-show at the regular Monday session of the legislative body, inadvertently making its details unknown to the public.
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. A decision to accept the project, accept with revisions, or reject it all together will ensue, sealing the fate of the public market.
SM Prime Holdings is set to build an SM entrance at the frontage of the public market main doors, with a 425 square meter atrium serving as the entry to the new public market section. 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.
During the November 17 Council Session, heated arguments were raised when it was revealed that the BTC has been collecting funds from trade fair exhibitors even before council approval of the budget.
Sentiments were raised regarding the acknowledgment of city infrastructure and manpower, as well as transparency in reporting finances, as space in a chalet (booth) in the Christmas market trade costs as high as P130,000 for the almost 40-day duration of the event.
The City provides the backbone for the AEBC, laying down the venue, decorations, and manpower, but receives no share in the payments for the event, which go to the BTC funds. The BTC then bankrolls the remainder of the needs for the event (logistics, meals, salaries of consultants, among others).
Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan lamented that terminal reports were only submitted to the city this year for 2023 and 2024 operations of the annual event. He moved to approve all events of the AEBC except for the Christmas market (trade fair) at the Rose Garden.
Olowan then asked Rhen Dwas of the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) if the city could take the lead of the entire Christmas activities, to which he affirmed it could be possible with full city backing.
The BTC officers have since been invited to attend the council discussion to shed light on matters of the AEBC. Maria Elena Catajan