Baguio City Public Market has long served as the city’s de facto living pantry and souvenir depot rolled into one. The Hangar Section opens earliest each day, its stalls stacked with fresh Benguet vegetables before most of the city has finished breakfast. For decades, travelers have made it their first stop — not just to stock up on produce, but to bring home a piece of the Cordilleras. That tradition now sits at the center of a P4.5 billion redevelopment proposal that could reshape how the market looks, who sells there, and what shoppers will find.
These numbers frame more than a construction project. The proposed seven-story complex — with two basement parking levels, two public market floors, three commercial levels, and a rooftop event space — represents a bet on Baguio’s future as a shopping and tourism hub. But for the people who run the stalls today, the question is whether that future includes them. Understanding what the market currently offers, and what stands to change, matters whether you are planning a weekend trip or tracking how city development affects small vendors.
What You Will Find Inside
The market’s layout mirrors how Baguio itself developed — organically, with sections devoted to different products rather than a single curated shopping experience. The Hangar Section handles vegetables. The Pasalubong Section packs the treats. A separate area near the flower stalls sells handwoven textiles from the same weaving traditions found in nearby Benguet communities. This separation matters for shoppers: you need to know which zone to head for rather than expecting everything in one aisle.
Why the Market May Look Different Soon
In 2019, Mayor Benjamin Magalong created a technical working group that produced the Master Development Plan for the public market. By February 2020, two companies — Robinsons Land Corporation and SM Prime Holdings Inc. — had submitted unsolicited proposals to redevelop the site. After evaluation, the Public Private Partnership for the People Selection Committee initially recommended RLC’s bid, but Magalong noted that RLC’s documents lacked substantive content. On October 14, 2020, SM Prime received a Certificate of Acceptance after officials concluded its proposal offered “greater advantage and benefits to the city.”
The planned structure: a seven-story building rising above two basement parking levels, with the bottom two floors dedicated to the public market, three floors for commercial use, and a rooftop event space. The total price tag: P4.5 billion. For context, that is roughly four times the annual budget of some smaller Philippine cities.
Not everyone is on board. The Baguio Market Vendors Association, led by lawyer Zosimo Abratique, counts 4,000 members who would need to relocate once construction begins. Some would move to satellite markets around the city; others would shift to the former slaughterhouse site that has raised safety and hygiene questions. Marissa Generalao, a vendor since age nine, told reporters she worries about losing her livelihood during the redevelopment. Joseph Oretil, who has sold at the market for 30 years, said he would likely look for side jobs during construction.
Beyond displacement, vendors fear higher rent. “If the rent increases, prices will also go up. Many will not be able to afford it,” Generalao said. Abratique clarified that the association does not oppose redevelopment itself — it opposes SM leading it. In August 2020, a coalition including the Baguio Heritage Foundation, Rehabilitation Action for Baguio Inc., and the Council for the Restoration of Filipino Values launched a petition urging the city government to reject unsolicited proposals. It gathered 5,448 verified signatures.
As of the latest reporting, small vendors and business owners are attempting to raise P4 billion to bid against SM for the project — a David-versus-Goliath effort that underscores how high the stakes are for those who currently make a living inside the market.
Ground That Shifts Beneath the Plans
The geological concerns do not stop at sinkholes. Geraldine Cacho, chairperson of the TTU (a local stakeholder group), recalled that sections of the current market occupy the former site of the Hilltop Hotel, which collapsed during the July 1990 earthquake. She questioned the wisdom of building a seven-story structure on potentially unstable ground. The city government has stated it will strengthen the ground, but Cacho pushed back: “A relatively young, or say, the soil is not that dense.”
Cacho also pointed to a past bus terminal collapse near the market where a sinkhole swallowed three buses — an incident referenced in the same 2023 climate risk and vulnerability assessment by climate finance specialist Olga Chepelianskaia. That report flagged that human activities, particularly heavy construction and excavation, accelerate sinkhole formation in karst-prone areas.
These concerns tie into a broader pattern. A 2019 study found that Baguio’s required urban road area has been exceeded since 1988 — meaning the city has been operating beyond its infrastructure capacity for nearly four decades. “If you’re carrying a weight that is heavier than your weight, you will fall,” Cacho said. “That’s the logic the LGU cannot see.”
For shoppers and vendors alike, the redevelopment raises a more immediate question: will the new market be safe enough to justify the cost? The city has not released a geotechnical assessment specific to the site, and the 2023 report explicitly warns that sinkholes are a “development-limiting factor.” Until that data is public, both the P4.5 billion price tag and the 4,000 livelihoods at stake rest on an uncertain foundation.
Practical Tips for Market Shoppers Right Now
Time Your Visit to the Season
Summer delivers the widest selection of fruits and vegetables at their peak. Strawberries are especially flavorful in late summer. If you arrive during the rainy season, expect fewer local varieties but more stable prices — fewer tourists means vendors are often more open to negotiating.
Know the Zones
The Hangar Section (fresh vegetables) opens earliest. The Pasalubong Section, where jams, peanut brittle, and coffee are sold, stays busy throughout the day. For handwoven textiles and silver jewelry, head to the Magsaysay Avenue side of the market. Tam-awan Village, a short distance away, offers workshops in weaving and wood carving if you prefer to see the craft being made before buying.
Bring Cash and an Eco-Bag
Many vendors now accept GCash and Maya, but smaller stalls still prefer cash — especially for purchases under P100. The city encourages eco-friendly practices, so bringing your own reusable bags is expected. Vendors sometimes provide eco-bags if needed, but availability varies. Bargaining is acceptable when buying in bulk; asking politely for a discount on multiple items is standard practice rather than haggling over individual pieces.
Watch for Changes
The redevelopment timeline remains fluid. If construction begins, some vendors will relocate to satellite markets around the city. Before your trip, check local news for updates on which sections of the market remain open. The same advance planning that applies to packing for Baguio’s weather also applies to knowing which market sections you can actually visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Baguio Public Market open? ▾
Where exactly is the public market located? ▾
Can I buy from the market if I don’t speak Ilocano or Kankanaey? ▾
Are there workshops where I can learn local crafts? ▾
Is the market open during holidays? ▾
Where can I find the best woodcarvings? ▾
What to Watch For Next
The redevelopment of Baguio City Public Market remains a story in motion. Between the geological questions, the vendor fundraising effort, and the city’s selection of a private partner, several variables could shift the outcome. For travelers, the practical takeaway is to visit sooner rather than later if you want to experience the market in its current form. For those concerned about urban development, the situation offers a case study in how Philippine cities balance modernization with the livelihoods of small vendors. Whichever side you are watching, the market itself will tell you a lot about where Baguio is headed.
If this was useful, you might also want to read what to expect from an acoustic night at Arca’s Yard in Baguio.
Sources
The road trip to Baguio: tips and tricks — Practical advice for driving to Baguio, including parking near the market and timing your arrival.
How the Philippine Military Academy shapes military leaders — A look at another Baguio institution that influences the city’s identity beyond tourism and shopping.
High price of Baguio’s public market development. Nordis, 2025.
Guide to Baguio Public Market 2025: must-buy souvenirs and local products. Pilipinas Popcorn, 2025.
Uncover local artisanal treasures in Baguio. Travel Ni Juan, 2025.
