Baguio City to build five flea markets

BAGUIO CITY – The city government here is planning to build five barangay satellite markets this year to decongest human traffic at the Baguio City Public Market, and widen the economic base of the city resulting in more jobs.

Architect Johnny Degay of the City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) said the projects have long been in the pipeline as long-term plans.

Degay said that with the restricted mobility of people due to quarantine measures imposed by the national government to quell the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the projects have gained more significance.

He said that, for this year, the Gibraltar District will see the rise of a four-storey satellite market with basement parking.

Flea markets in Barangays San Vicente, Middle Quezon Hill, Dominican-Mirador and Bayan Park have also been lined-up.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong earlier directed CBAO to draft a prototype design for the structures, depicting the culture and identity of Baguio.

Degay bared that each satellite market would cost about P3-million to build. Implementation commences next month. It will be funded from the city’s budget allotment for 2020 Priority Infrastructure Projects.

Degay said the construction of sub-souks was part of the 15-point agenda of the current administration to address market modernization. Similar structures in other barangays are also in the pipeline.