Vendors oppose proposed Baguio City Public Market modernization amid fears of privatization

Hundreds of vendors at the Baguio City Public Market staged daily noise barrages and protests to oppose the city government's proposed market modernization project, citing fears of privatization, higher rent, and possible loss of livelihood.

Every afternoon at around 3 p.m., the market fills with the sound of clanging metal basins, steel objects, and gongs as thousands of vendors take part in the protest.

"'Yun ang aming gesture na we are crying out at voice po namin na manininda dito sa palengke ng Baguio. Para kami po ay marinig ng aming Councilors sa mismong City Hall," one vendor said.

[“That is our gesture — we are crying out as vendors here in the Baguio market, so that we can be heard by our Councilors at the City Hall.”]

Vendors stressed that the public market should remain for the people of Baguio.

"Ang palengke para sa tao ng Baguio City. Hindi po namin kailangan ng isa pang mall dito sa palengke dahil hindi na ito matatawag na public market 'pag may mall pa," another vendor said.

[“The public market is for the people of Baguio City. We do not need another mall here, because it can no longer be called a public market if there is still a mall.”]

A century-old market and source of livelihood

For more than a hundred years, the Baguio City Public Market has been a major trading center for products from the Cordillera region, including vegetables, fruits, meat, flowers, and coffee. It has also become a staple destination for tourists visiting the city.

For vendors like Aling Perpetua, the market is deeply personal.

"Dito na po ako lumaki," she said, adding that selling vegetables at the market allowed her to raise her family and now helps her afford maintenance medicine for her and her husband.

"At least, awa ng Diyos, eh sapat pa rin naman para kami maka-survive," she said.

[“I grew up here. By God’s mercy, it is still enough for us to survive.”]

Her fears began when vendors learned about the city's plan to modernize the market, which reportedly includes a mall component and a large parking area.

"Nakakaramdam ka muna ng takot, panghihinayang, awa sa sarili. Kasi wala na kaming uuwian talaga e," Perpetua said. "Umaasa kami na sana naman may mga tao, may opisyal tayo, isinasaalang-alang 'yung mga kalagayan ng mga kagaya namin."

[“At first, you feel fear, regret, and pity for yourself, because you really have nowhere to go. We are hoping that there are people — officials — who would take our welfare into consideration.”]

Seventy-five-year-old vendor Catalina said the market is her only means of survival.

"Sabi ng mga tao, malaki daw ang renta. Mayaman lang daw ang magtitinda," she said.

[“People say the rent is very high, and that only the wealthy will be able to sell.”]

She appealed to officials to let her continue working.

Another long-time vendor, Sophia, said the market helped her family improve their lives over four decades.

"Nakapagpaaral kami ng anak. Dito kami kumukuha ng pagkain namin sa araw-araw," she said.

[“We were able to send our child to school. This is where we get our food for our daily needs.]

While she said her family may manage, she worries about others.

"Hindi para sa sarili ko," Sophia said. "Paano naman 'yung maiiwanan namin kung sakaling nag-uumpisa pa lang?"

[“This is not for myself. What about those we will leave behind?]

City plan and private sector involvement

The proposed modernization is part of Mayor Benjamin Magalong's 10-point agenda when he ran for office in 2019.

That same year, the Baguio City Council approved a conceptual master development plan after public consultations.

In 2020, Mayor Magalong announced that the project would be pursued through a public-private partnership (PPP), which attracted interest from private companies.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. later submitted a P4.5-billion proposal.

Sonny, a vendor for more than 30 years and a market section leader, said vendors were consulted early on.

"Medyo matagal na itong issue kasi bago pa hindi nagka-pandemic, may prinopose na ang city na ma-develop itong palengke," he said.

[“This issue has been around for quite some time because even before the pandemic, the city had already proposed developing this market.”]

However, concerns grew when SM was linked to the project.

"Nangamba na kami kasi alam ninyo naman pag naging SM, alam mo naman konektado, may mall na 'yan," Sonny said. "Saka siguradong may pagtataas na 'yung mga upa."

[“We became worried because, as you know, if it becomes an SM development, it’s already connected to a mall. And surely, the rents will increase.”]

He added that small vendors and farmers may suffer.

"Malulugi kami kasi baka konti na lang ang benta," he said.

[“We would suffer losses because our sales could become very low.”]

Relocation and 'mallification' fears

Under the proposal, vendors may be temporarily relocated to a former slaughterhouse while construction is ongoing.

A lawyer representing the vendors warned of serious impact.

"Habang ginagawa itong palengke, nandun sila ililipat sa isang lugar na walang magiging negosyo," the lawyer said. "Parang sardinas na."

[“While this market is being constructed, they will be moved to a place where they won’t have any business. It’s like sardines packed together.”]

Opponents described the plan as "mallification," or the transformation of a public market into a commercial complex.

The Baguio Market Vendor Association (BAMARVA) said it supports improving the market but not privatization.

"Walang tumututol na i-develop," a group representative said. "Kaya lang ang inaano namin, ang siyudad sana ang mismong magpapaganda nito."

[“No one is opposed to developing [the market]. It’s just that what we want is for the local government will be the one to improve it.”]

A staff from the office of Mayor Magalong has maintained that the market will not be privatized, saying it will remain "exclusively managed and operated by the city and all the revenues from the market operation will go to the city."

On September 12, the mayor's office submitted the proposal to the Baguio City Council, which has 120 days to decide whether to approve, reject, or modify it.

Under the plan, the redeveloped market will have seven floors, with four floors for the public market, three for a mall component, and eight levels of parking. The contract will run for 50 years.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. declined to be interviewed. However they release a statement saying “We were invited that we did not go further.”

Decision expected next month

More than 4,000 vendors continue to protest and have launched a signature campaign aiming to gather 25,000 to 30,000 signatures.

"This affects the heart and soul of the City of Baguio," a lawyer said. "'Yung 50 taon, napakatagal."

[“50 years is a very long time.”]

The Baguio City Council is expected to release its decision next month.

"As we still have voice, as we still have breath in our lungs, 'yung vendors po, partner with the government will make the market to be redeveloped. Not any privatization po," one vendor said.

[As long as we still have a voice, and as long as we still have breath in our lungs, the vendors— together with the government, will make sure the market is redeveloped, not privatized.]

For now, vendors continue to protest as they await a decision that could shape the future of the Baguio City Public Market for generations. —Carby Rose Basina/MGP, GMA Integrated News