Vendors’ group hit Baguio market dev’t negotiations

‘We were left out’

BAGUIO CITY -- A leader of an association of vendors at the City Public Market assailed the city government’s negotiations with SM Prime Holdings (SMPH) despite their clamor the development plan could have included their proposal.

    During the Feb. 20 public consultation on the plan to develop the market, lawyer Zosimo Abratique, president of Baguio Market Vendors Association (BAMARVA) said the city government initially involved the vendors in planning the market’s improvement but things took a different turn when city officials decided the development should be through a public-private partnership (PPP).

    “We were consulted but naiba na,” Abratique said recalling that SMPH’s proposal as presented during the consultation was different from its earlier proposal submitted to the P4 Selection Committee.

Abratique said the general clamor of vendors was for the city government to finance the development, not a private entity.

    He said the vendors feared displacement, higher rent and unfair competition in the event the developer allows new tenants into the developed area.

    “We feel like this is a done deal. We cannot find a way to present an alternative. Iba yung original proposal, at iba na itong end product. Parang hindi na unsolicited proposal. It appears that it became a negotiated deal,”    Abratique told the City Council’s committee on laws, which organized the public consultation.

    Abratique said they were not opposed to the development but preferred for the government or for the vendors themselves to shoulder a portion of the cost of development.

    SMPH’s original proposal was to manage 70 percent of the developed market, while the 30 percent will be managed by the Baguio local government.

    This proposal was reportedly amended while terms of development were being negotiated. Under the amended terms, the city government will manage the public market 70 percent with 30 percent by SMPH.

    However, the market building, initially said to be seven storeys will reportedly become eight storeys.

    The number of years where SMPH may operate has also been revised, though this has not been disclosed during consultation.

    The market development project is estimated to cost P4.50 billion.

    The proposal is now under review by City Development Council.

    Market vendors and other concerned citizens of Baguio have asked the P4 Selection Committee to divulge the terms of negotiation between the committee and SMPH, proponent of the market development project.

As the project inched closer to the Swiss Challenge, stakeholders who attended the public consultation on Feb. 14, at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center said the committee should be transparent and present to the public the 34 terms of negotiation.

    The P4 has so far given only an overview of the terms, citing the non-disclosure agreement between the committee and SMPH.

    However, terms have been presented to the City Development Council (CDC) as part of the process before endorsement to the City Council.

     Lack of details about the 34 terms of negotiation, limited the discussion in a public consultation, a stakeholder said.

    “I ask the city council to maximize the 120 days. Ang hirap nagdidiscuss na hindi namin alam ang complete terms”, a stakeholder said.

    Under the new Public-Private Partnership law, the approving authority (the City Council in this case), has 120 working days to decide on whether to approve the terms as endorsed by CDC.

    Holy Ghost Extension Kagawad George Bangsoy, who is also a vendor in the market, echoed the sentiment.

    He told a representative of SMPH who attended the consultation, “Adu gamin ti detalye nga saan nga maibagbaga isunga ada fear kanyami nga vendor. Tell us so we can have an informed decision.”

    The terms of negotiation were presented to the CDC last Feb. 14.

    The CDC has 30 days from receipt of the Notice of Completeness to review the proposal and submit a report to the City Council about its concerns and decision.

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Mayors league head hits Abra poll violence reports; no deaths

By Liza Agoot

BAGUIO CITY – The president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), Mayor Joseph Bernos of La Paz, Abra assailed Wednesday reports of political violence in the province saying peace and order situation improved. 

    Speaking during induction of officers of the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club on Tuesday evening at the Beneco Hall in this city, Bernos said for over a decade, no politician was killed during an election in the province.

    During the past four to six elections, Abra did not record any election-related killings, he said. 

    “The political landscape in Abra has changed. For the past three months, bago ang political dynamics sa Abra (the dynamics in politics is new), he said.” 

    Bernos said Abra used to be a perennial election hotspot and the province gained notoriety because of political violence.  

    “We are from the Cordillera, nakakahiya kami sa Abra kapag pinag-usapan ang election violence. Hiyang-hiya kami nadadamay ang Cordillera because we are a part of it (We in Abra were ashamed when election violence was being talked about. The whole Cordillera region is being dragged because we are part of it),” he said.

    Bernos said they have been trying for years to erase the public’s image of Abra as an unsafe place.

    During the recent Joint Security Council meeting, Brig. Gen. David Peredo, Police Regional Office-Cordillera director, said Abra was placed under the Commission on Elections' "Orange" category due to the previous records and not because there is an ongoing peace and order problem in the province.

    Code "orange" indicates the presence of armed groups and incidents of poll-related violence.

    “Because they have a record, they cannot be considered as green category but that is already past, it is different now,” Peredo said. 

    Meanwhile, with the ongoing Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA), Bernos said they are keeping an eye on the athletes, and noted that they have improved their standing compared to the previous years. 

    “For the first time in many years, as of Tuesday, we are number 2, next to perennial winner Baguio City,” he said. 

    He added as LMP president, he urged 27 participating municipalities to fully support the athletes. 

“We have to look at the welfare of the athletes kasi noon kulang ang support sa mga pangangailangan nila. This time we made sure that municipalities support the athletes (We have to look at the welfare of the athletes because previously, they lacked that needed support. This time, we made sure that municipalities support their athletes),” he said. -- PNA

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Tagel campaigns for revival of customary politics in Benguet

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- For decades, campaigning in Benguet was a friendly competition. Candidates may have had differing opinions and strategies on how to address issues in the province but dirty politics was unheard of then, according to observers.

Old folks say this practice that is rooted from indigenous practices suddenly changed in recent years, however.

Gone are the days when opposing camps campaigned together and even shared resources to buy food which they eat with the community, they say.

The political scene in the province has changed and turned into personal rivalry not only among the candidates but even among their supporters, they add.

 Running on a platform of land, values, people, One Benguet, a socio-political movement, intends to bring back the customary political practices in the province.

Vice Gov. and One Benguet congressional candidate Ericson “Tagel” Felipe said while culture is dynamic and changes over time, he said there are practices that should remain. This includes preserving the positive values of the i-Benguets.

“Culture is dynamic. It changes but traditions should remain kasla diay tongtongan wenno tavtaval”, Felipe said, adding the tongtongan or tavtaval is a form of a participatory government for it allows community members and leaders to deal with issues cordially.

 “Nagpintas ti panagkakadua tayu ti pulitika. Ma-discover tayu pay ketdi nu sinnu pay ti dadduma nga kakabagian tayu”, Felipe said, recalling the past political exercises of the province where kinship played a huge role why Benguet was able to sustain a peaceful political atmosphere.

 Running on a platform of land, values, people, Felipe and One Benguet said clean politics devoid of any demolition jobs is one of the indigenous values they want to sustain in Benguet.

Ahead of the campaign period in March, Felipe urged his supporters to always be civil and avoid attacking members of opposing camps.

 In his speaking engagements, Felipe said one’s fate, whether in politics or in other aspects in life, is determined by the Almighty.

 In his speaking engagements, Felipe reminds his audience about the long-held tradition in Benguet -- that politics in the province is fair game.

 He said there should be no mudslinging and nothing should be taken personally. Felipe stressed that the end of the day, they are still one community.

“Let us leave it to God. Ti importante, saan tayu nga aga-apa”, the Vice Governor said.

 Felipe is the congressional candidate under One Benguet, a socio-political movement, and is running on a platform of land, values, people. -- Elijah

 

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Law on use of public infra, business in parks violated

 

By Gaby B. Keith

 

BAGUIO CITY – Implementation of city ordinance 67, series of 2008, that prohibits and makes it unlawful for any person, individual, or group to obstruct, cover or use any portion of public infrastructures in parks and providing penalties, was found not to have been fully implemented.

This was stated in a status report, Dec. 12, 2024, on the legislative monitoring and evaluation of the said measure conducted by Nechel Ocasion, local legislative staff assistant 3, of the City Council and submitted to Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan.

The status report’s conclusion was based on information and reports submitted by the General Services Office (GSO), City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO), City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) and all the city’s punong barangays.

It urged the City Council to consider recommendations of concerned offices like including as one provision in the ordinance office responsible implementation of its provisions; include in the list of prohibited acts:  setting up of illegal booths, stalls, and extensions on allocated areas of concessionaires, use of areas and portions of city parks for prohibited activities such as henna tattooing, nail cleaning, placarding, selling phone loads, and other activities.

Penalties will increased and concessionaires shall voluntarily remove illegal structures and extensions while in the case of involuntary removal, the CEPMO, Public Order and Safety Division (POSD), and the CBAO Demolition Team shall be authorized to remove these.

Other recommended actions were strict enforcement of the ordinance, public awareness campaigns, involvement of barangay officials and volunteers, implementing a park management system, incentivizing corporate or group sponsorship for park maintenance, establishing clear boundaries for commercial use, community education and awareness, enhanced monitoring and penalties.

 

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City Council eases process, rules for power connection

By Jordan Habbiling 

 

BAGUIO CITY -- The Baguio City Council recently enacted an ordinance that will simplify the process for obtaining Certificates of Final Electrical Inspection (CFEI) or Certificates of Electrical Inspection (CEI) by the City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO), making it easier for Baguio residents to connect to the electrical grid.

By reducing bureaucratic hurdles and simplifying document requirements, the ordinance seeks to ensure more households can access electricity which is essential for modern living standards.

Through this initiative, the city is able to help its residents get access to reliable electricity, thus uplifting their standard of living.

The ordinance cited data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Cordillera which indicated many households in the city still lack electricity service connections and still rely on gas lamps and candles for lighting.

The simplified process applies exclusively to residents of Baguio City occupying residential dwellings subject to investigation by the CBAO.

On the other hand, structures with active demolition orders, located within waterways, or declared high-risk areas by government agencies are disqualified.

Requirements include an electrical plan compliant with the Philippine Electrical Code; proof of ownership such as deed of sale, waivers, tax declaration, or authorization from the registered/declared building owner; certificate of non-tax delinquency; barangay certification.

Additional documents, if applying through a representative, are the following: original notarized letter of authorization or Special Power of Attorney; photocopy of the notarized contract of lease/agreement (if applicable); or photocopy of any document showing proof of relationship of the representative to the principal owner such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, or death certificates.

The above requirements may apply to structures under the purview of Torrens title system and the National Building Code of the Philippines.

Applications for electrical connections must be filed with the CBAO which will then be evaluated by the CBAO for completeness and compliance with the Philippine Electrical Code. The applicant pays the recommended fee, receives an official receipt, and submits it to the CBAO for review and approval. Applications must be processed by a qualified Professional Electrical Engineer (PEE), or Registered Electrical Engineer (REE), or RME (Registered Master Electrician), or other electrical practitioners duly accredited by the Benguet Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BENECO) and the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines, Inc. (IIEE), Baguio-Benguet Chapter or the applicant.

In cases of fraud or non-disclosure of relevant information, the affected party will be required to voluntarily remove and surrender their electrical service connections.

The ordinance has been transmitted to the City Mayor’s Office to be signed by Mayor Benjamin Magalong before its implementation.

 

 

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DOH: Dengue cases now 491 in Cordillera towns

BAGUIO CITY -- The Cordillera regional office of the Dept. of Health here bared fever cases in the region dropped by 19 percent first five weeks of the year compared to cases recorded same period last year.

    Victoria Malicdan, Nurse V of the DOH-CAR’s regional epidemiology and surveillance unit, said that from January 1 to February 1, 2025, there were already 491 dengue cases that were reported in the different parts of the region compared to the 605 cases reported during the same period last year.
    For this year, Benguet had the highest number of dengue fever cases with 137 followed by Baguio City with 116 cases, Apayao – 91 cases, Kalinga – 48 cases, Mountain Province – 43 cases, Ifugao – 36 cases and Abra – 20 cases.
    Last year, Benguet still recorded the highest number for dengue fever cases during the same reckoning period with 218 followed by Baguio City with 97 cases, Ifugao – 78 cases, Apayao – 72 cases, Mountain Province – 70 cases, Kalinga – 40 cases and Abra – 30 cases.

    The DOH-CAR official claimed that while dengue cases are decreasing in the region, there is also a concerning increase of cases in Apayao, Kalinga and Baguio City.
    Based on the data made available by the DOH-CAR, 34 barangays had clustering of cases that warranted the implementation of appropriate interventions from the concerned health offices in the affected areas.
    Further, 276 dengue-afflicted individuals or 56 percent of the reported cases had been admitted in the different health facilities in the various parts of the region where they were provided with the necessary medical treatment.
    Malicdan said that the health department remains committed in implementing increased awareness on the appropriate preventive measures, particularly the 4s strategy, to protect the members of the vulnerable and marginalized groups from contracting the deadly virus that might compromise their health condition.
    Moreover, she assured that there will be a coordinated response among concerned government agencies and local governments in ensuring the implementation of the necessary programs, projects and activities that will protect the people from the prevalence of the said illness. - PIO

 

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Local absentee voting registration ongoing; deadline up March 7

By Liza Agoot

 

BAGUIO CITY – The Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Baguio urged eligible individuals to avail of local absentee voting (LAV) option.

    Comelec-Baguio Election Officer John Paul Martin said LAV is a privilege for police officers, soldiers, teachers, other government employees and members of the media who cannot vote on May 12.

    Those who want to avail of LAV may apply either at the Comelec central office in Manila or local Comelec offices until March 7. 

    LAV is allowed for national positions only. Voting period will be on April 28 to 30 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“This is an initiative of the Comelec to allow them to participate in the election even if they have an election duty to render and they cannot cast their votes at their respective precincts,” he said.

    He cited as example a police officer who resides in Abra but will be assigned to Mindanao for election duty.

    “The policeman can still vote through the LAV and exercise his right to vote,” Martin said.

    LAV participation is not just exercising the constitutional right but will keep the voter’s record active, he added.

    The ballots will be sealed and forwarded to the LAV division for the feeding of the ballots to the automatic counting machine.

“    It will be a separate canvassing and separate voting process because they have a different ballot from the regular voters,” Martin said. -- PNA

 

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