So, is baking soda actually a strong base?
There is nothing to discuss (unless you find it necessary to compare two known numbers by discussion). $\ce{NaHCO3}$ is a very weak base.

Really, do you have baking soda around? Throw some in the water and see whether $\ce{CO2}$ actually escapes. It doesn't. It will if you heat the solution to near-boiling temperatures; then you'll have $\ce{Na2CO3}$ which is a base of moderate strength. You can't convert it all to $\ce{NaOH}$ this way.

So it goes.