BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Jaime Raphael Feliciano, Chief Business Development Officer of Megawide Construction Corporation signed the lease agreement for the Baguio City Integrated Terminal Project, the city’s first project implemented under the Private-Public Partnership (PPP) scheme, on January 21.
The signing ended years of obstruction in the complex steps of the PPP process that began in 2020.
PPP Center Executive Director Undersecretary Rizza Blanco-Latorre attended the event and congratulated the city for the successful project and acknowledged the amount of effort put in by both parties in the endeavor.
Feliciano assured that they came up with a “very fair contract” considering the “rigorous and transparent process” they went through with both the executive and legislative branches of the city government.
“We had to go through the eye of a needle. But because of that, we were able to come up with a contract that was very fair,” he said.
He assured that they will fulfill all their obligations and build a “world-class intermodal terminal” like they have done in their quality PPP projects nationwide including the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) and the Clark International Airport.
“Because Baguio is special to us and to most Filipinos, we promise to fulfill all obligations and more, in the times to come,” he said.
“Megawide in partnership with the Baguio City Government aims to strategically build an intermodal terminal to help decongest the central business district (CBD). The goal is to offer an enhanced passenger experience by providing a first-world transport facility that can integrate multiple modes of transportation,” Megawide said.
The BCIT project is one of the city’s major projects under the PPP program, to be built in Barangay Dontogan along Marcos Highway, which will serve as a passenger transfer terminal for provincial buses coming from outside Baguio to serve as a passenger transfer terminal to various modes of transportation to the city.
They specifically aim to “consolidate provincial buses, UVs, modern jeepneys and taxis, offer better passenger facilities with comfortable and spacious waiting areas, provide quality facilities for transportation operators and develop an iconic structure that reflects the culture and heritage of Baguio.”
The modern terminal is expected to provide travel conveniences (comfortable seats, waiting areas and boarding gates), passenger info displays/kiosks, ticket booths, customer service, baggage/luggage trolleys, food and retail offerings, free wifi, park and ride options); safety features and facilities for the disabled (24-hour safety and security system, ramps for the mentally challenged, elevators, etc., first aid provisions, breastfeeding stations for nursing mothers, standby police units and designated areas for massage services for the visually impaired); Multiple modes of transportation to various destinations (bus, UV, traditional and modern jeepneys and taxis)
Other features are to the benefit of operators, in terms of lower operating costs and overhead costs (available space for minor repairs and cleaning, no need for separate ticketing facilities, no need for separate drivers’ lounge and canteen, no dead run due to the presence of a staging area, and the presence of EV charging facilities)
Revenue is also seen to increase due to data-driven passenger management ensuring that transport demand matches supply.
For the city government, revenue is expected to increase through rental payments, revenue share, property taxes, and businesses that generate contributions to business permits and taxes.
The lease will last for 40 years, after which all project-related assets will be transferred to the city.
The company has assured that city residents will be given priority employment for both construction and management.
The project has an estimated cost of P1,186,000,000. – Aileen P. Refuerzo
