The Baguio City government has sealed a 40-year lease with Megawide Construction Corporation for the P1.186-billion Baguio City Integrated Terminal (BCIT), marking the mountain resort city’s first venture under the public-private partnership framework and a milestone for local infrastructure delivery.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Megawide chief business development officer Jaime Raphael Feliciano signed the contract on Wednesday, Jan. 21, with PPP Center Executive Director Undersecretary Rizza Blanco-Latorre witnessing the ceremony, signaling national support for the city-led initiative.
Planned along Marcos Highway, the BCIT will consolidate provincial buses entering Baguio into a single, modern hub. From the terminal, passengers will transfer to city-approved transport modes for onward travel, a system designed to decongest the urban core, improve traffic flow, and enhance commuter safety and convenience.
Under the agreement, Megawide will finance, design, build, operate, and maintain the terminal throughout the 40-year lease period. At the end of the term, all project assets will be handed over to the city government at no cost, ensuring long-term public ownership.
City officials said the project demonstrates how local governments can tap private capital, technical expertise, and operational discipline to deliver large-scale transport infrastructure without immediate pressure on public finances.
For Megawide, the deal expands its portfolio of transport-oriented PPPs, while for Baguio, the terminal is expected to support tourism growth, streamline mobility, and set a template for future partnerships as the city modernizes its transport network.
Officials added the timeline targets phased construction, strict performance standards, and integrated ticketing, with revenues anchored on terminal fees and commercial leases, aligning incentives over decades and reinforcing accountability, service quality, and resilience amid fluctuating travel demand for users, operators, and the city alike over the long term.
