Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan and members of the Baguio City Council are considering the establishment of clear guidelines to regulate the approval process for trade fairs within the city. This effort aims to guarantee that these events are conducted in a manner that is fair and compliant with the law.
This initiative was prompted by a discussion during the city council’s regular session on April 29, 2024 about the alleged violations by organizers of recent trade fairs particularly the Food Exposition which was held along the Rose Garden in Burnham Park.
The city council members pointed out that the said event, organized by the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB), was intended as a showcase of food and culinary dishes. However, they claimed that other items such as t-shirts, toys, and handicrafts were permitted to be sold by the tenants. This, according to them, violated the city council’s resolution approving the conduct of the Food Expo which explicitly specified that the event’s focus was on culinary and food-related products.
Allan Abayao, head of the Permits and Licensing Division, confirmed that there were 85 stalls that sold non-food products. After the office forwarded their inspection report to the organizer, a number of participants selling non-food products withdrew per the organizer’s instructions, Abayao said.
Regarding the non-food stalls that did not withdraw after inspection, Abayao said he opted not to enforce closure on these non-compliant stalls due to humanitarian considerations.
“These participants have already paid [rent and business permit fee]. If we order the closure of these stalls, they would be the ones affected and sacrificed. If there are penalties to be imposed, it should be the organizer that faces them, not the vendors,” Abayao stated.
Abayaos said the contract between the participants and the organizer allowed participants to sell crafts and non-food related.
Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda emphasized that the council resolution should have taken precedence over the contract between the participants and the organizer.
“Next time, implement what is approved in the city council, and not what is in the contract between the organizer and the participants,” Tabanda told Abayao.
The city council members also mentioned the alleged violation committed during a recent trade fair in Kagitingan Barangay held in conjunction with the barangay’s fiesta. The council members pointed out that the trade fair proceeded without the required approval from the city council.
Liga ng mga Barangay president Rocky Aliping disclosed that the trade fair in Kagitingan Barangay proceeded based on his recommendation. He recognized his error and apologized for having exceeded his mandate.
Councilor Benny Bomogao recommended that a pre-conference meeting be held before implementing any resolution approving the conduct of a trade fair. This pre-conference should involve the Permits and Licensing Division and other relevant offices overseeing the activity. He said the purpose is to ensure thorough monitoring of participants’ compliance with the trade fair ordinance, registration with government agencies, possession of necessary documents, certified copies of registration, project proposals, list of participants and goods to be sold and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) clearances.
Bomogao proposed the creation of a body or a committee within the executive department to screen and synthesize these requirements before forwarding requests to the city council for approval or disapproval.
The city council referred the matter to the Committee on Market, Trade and Commerce, and Agriculture to come up with a report and provide recommendations. **Jordan G. Habbiling
