The residents and organizations that supported their struggle successfully stopped the plan to privatize and “mallify” the public market in Baguio City.

On January 3, the Baguio City Public Information Office announced that SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPHI) had sent a letter to city mayor Benjamin Magalong’s office withdrawing its plan to develop the market.

The city council is set to vote on January 9 on whether to accept or reject SM’s proposed plan.

According to the Save Baguio Market Movement, the withdrawal is a historic victory for Baguio residents. They achieved it through organizing, collective research and discussions, expressing opposition, engaging with the local government, and upholding high standards for elected officials. When people unite and stand together, they can face even giants—and this is what Baguio residents did.

The group also called on the city councilors to formally accept SMPHI’s withdrawal or reject its proposed plan before January 9. It said the project could still proceed without the council’s decision. The group also urged the council to revoke City Resolution 399 of 2020, which specified using Public-Private Partnership to develop the public market.

Tongtongan Ti Umili called on the public to remain alert about updates. “While we celebrate this victory, we remain vigilant. There will surely be attempts to change the narrative, divert responsibility, or revive the same plan under a different name. We will continue to demand accountability from the local government and insist that the public market should be developed by the people for whom it was created,” the group said.

The group added that what Baguio needs is development that prioritizes public welfare, comes from public funds, is transparent and accountable, and does not depend on corporations that run counter to public service.