Jan. 22, 2026 – The City Government and the Megawide Construction Corporation have signed the contract of lease for the Baguio City Integrated Terminal Project, the city’s first project to the implemented under the Private-Public Partnership (PPP) scheme today, Jan. 21, 2026.
The main signatories are Mayor Benjamin Magalong for the city government and Megawide Chief Business Development Officer Jaime Raphael Feliciano for Megawide.
The signing capped years of hurdling the complex steps of the PPP process which began in 2020.
PPP Executive Director Rizza Blanco- Latorre attended the event and congratulated the city for the successful venture and attested to the amount of efforts put in by both parties to the endeavor.
Feliciano assured that they came up with a “very fair contract” considering the “rigorous and transparent process” that they underwent with both the executive and legislative branches of the city government.
“Para kaming dumaan sa butas ng karayom. But because of that, we came up with a contract that is very fair,” he said.
He assured that they will deliver all their obligations and come up with a “world class intermodal terminal” as they did with their quality PPP projects nationwide including the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) and the Clark International Airport.
“As Baguio is special to us and to most Filipinos, we commit to deliver all obligations and beyond, moving forward,” he said.
Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan who spoke in behalf of Mayor Benjamin Magalong agreed that the rigorous process led to an equitable outcome but more have to be done.
“True that we underwent a very tedious process and came up with a fair contract and I hope it will be a challenge to all of us to make it a success. We have complied with all requirements but there more things to do,” he said citing the need to prepare the site before Megawide can take over and begin implementing the project.
The BCIT project is one of the city’s big ticket projects under the PPP program.
It aims to develop an integrated terminal in Dontogan barangay along Marcos Highway that will cater to provincial buses coming from outside Baguio to serve as passenger transfer terminals to different modes of transportation going into the city.
It was envisioned to help decentralize vehicular traffic in the congested central business district.
“Megawide in partnership with City Government of Baguio aims to strategically construct an intermodal terminal to help decongest the central business district (CBD). The objective is to offer an enhanced
passenger experience by providing a first-world transport facility that can integrate multiple modes of transport,” Megawide says.
They specifically aims to “consolidate provincial buses, UVs, modern jeepneys and taxis, offer better passenger amenities with comfortable and spacious waiting areas, provide high-quality facilities for transport operators and develop an iconic structure reflecting Baguio culture and heritage.”
The state-of-the-art terminal is envisioned to provide travel conveniences (comfortable seats, waiting areas and boarding gates), passenger info displays/kiosks, ticket booths, customer service, troleys for baggage/luggage, food and retail offerings, free wifi, park and ride options); safety features and special needs facilities (24-hour safety and security systems, PWD ramps, elevators, etc., first-aid provisions, lactation stations for nursing mothers, standby police units and dedicated areas for visually-impaired massage services);
Multiple transport modes to different destinations (bus, UVs, traditional and modern jeepneys and taxis)
Other features are for the benefit of the operators, in terms of lower operating costs and overhead expenses (available area for minor reparis and cleaning, no separate ticketing fadlities needed, no seperate drivers lounge and canteen required, no dead run because of availability of staging area, and availability of EV charging facilities)
Increased profit is also seen due to data-driven passenger management ensuring that transport demand matches supply.
For the city government, increased revenue is expected through lease payments, revenue share, real property tax, and businesses generated contributing business permits and taxes.
The lease will run for 40 years afterwhich all project-related assets will be transferred the city.
The company assured that employment priority will be given to city residents for both construction and management.
The project has an estimated cost of P1,186,000,000.
Full details of the contract will be posted soon. ** Aileen P. Refuerzo
