DESPITE assurances from Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong of a people-centered market rehabilitation deal with private companies, a staunch opposition is brewing over the privatization of the Baguio City public market.
Geraldine Cacho, chairperson of Tongtongan ti Umili, has voiced opposition to the rehabilitation of the city market through private companies like SM and Robinsons.
"The current scheme, which entrusts the development of public facilities
to a public-private partnership (PPP), will only do more harm than good. While poor people will pay the price of privatization, the enormous cost of profit will go straight in to the pockets of big businesses who are in joint venture with the national and local government," Cacho said.
Last week, Magalong announced an evaluation of unsolicited proposals from both SM and Robinsons will be evaluated as an ongoing market inventory is underway.
All of these will be evaluated by the city's Public-Private Partnership for the People (P4) selection committee headed by City Budget Officer Leticia Clemente and the technical working group (TWG) on market development.
The TTU is advocating a rehabilitation without privatization.
"The Baguio City local government's blind drive to privatize its market, roads, even public toilets, underscores the intense mayhem inflicted by favored corporate interests against the general public welfare. More than violating the rights of vendors to decent livelihood, consumers will also be burdened through higher prices of basic commodities should this move pushes through," Cacho added.
The mayor earlier said the city will go for a deal that would not require cash investment and one that would ensure the welfare of the roughly 4,000 stallholders at the market.
But the mayor said any proposal can be challenged by the public and he welcomes the still pending proposal to be submitted by the existing market cooperative.
Magalong eyes the start of construction for the market by third quarter of the year and by the year 2022, initial construction has to be completed.
"The people of Baguio have once won a battle against corporate greed when it successfully defended the public market from Uniwide. We will not hesitate to do the same today," Cacho said.