Market dev’t must provide better opportunities for Baguio folks

August 29, 2020 Headlines

An upgrade that ultimately improves and support local businesses, especially the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and provide more opportunities for its vendors through the help of public-private partnership, most if not all of its 350,000 city residents thirst for.
While the local government of Baguio has pointed out that the bid is still open, SM Prime Holdings, Inc. and Robinsons Land Corporation are the only two proponents wanting to strike a deal. Both proponents have recently submitted unsolicited proposals for the modernization of the Baguio City Public Market.
Among which are: SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime) is proposing a wider gross leasable area of 34,000 square meter giving space to over 5,300 stalls while Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC) can only accommodate oughly 4,000 stalls at 24,000 square meters.
SM Prime said its bid impresses a foreseeable higher public market revenue coming from its P44M revenue collection in 2019. While in terms of land area, RLC seemed has exceeded its proposal by 1.5 hectares, which could hamper its bid as it progresses since the area is still under an existing lease, while SM Prime is fully compliant. Also, SM Prime’s advanced lease payment is relatively higher at P76,000 per square meter compared to RLCs’ P38,000 per square meter upfront and over time.
SM Prime has also a P632M fund for relocation site as part of its overall proposed P2.32B budget while Robinsons has failed to factor this, which can possibly disrupt the public market business during the course of its proposed four-year construction. Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said he is now looking into the more salient points of the proposals of both SM Prime Holdings Inc. and RLC even after the Public-Private Partnership or the People (P4) has made its own recommendation.
Councilor Benny Bomogao said that it is high time for the development of the market, reflecting the views of vice mayor Faustino Olowan that it has not changed since the 70s. Bomogao said that it appears that those who oppose do not want change in it because they have interest to protect, like more stalls than is allowed.
“Only those that have interest in it want to remain as it is, ayaw mabago,” added Bomogao, a lawyer. Councilor Vladimir Cayabas, on the other hand, said that even if the RLC already has the OPS (Original Proponent Status), it will still be a long process before an award will be made.
“I doubt that it will happen this year or even in the next six months. Maybe we can wait for eight or nine months,” he told the Amianan Balita Ngayon. “Chances are even RLC will have a hard time defending against the likes of SM, which I think has the better proposal. I was also amazed that it was the favored proponent,” he added in the vernacular.
“Madugo ito,” summed P4 chairman and city administrator Bonifacio dela Pena.
AAD/TAFP/PML/ABN