Baguio Blooms organizer, Maribelle Chagwaten, received complains by previous concessionaires of the Baguio Blooms due to deductions in their cash bonds.The cash bond was P5,000 and was supposed to be returned after the Flower Festival. It was returned but not in full as there were deductions.
When vendors asked her why she answered there for supplies used during the Baguio Blooms.
Each concessionaire had to pay P950.00 for the canvass used during the event.
Another deduction was for the payment of shirts, their uniform, which cost P250.00 per. A lot of concessionaires argued on the price of the shirt saying it was too thin.
“The retail prices of our Whistler and Softex Shirts with Baguio prints costs 150 pesos. The price of P250.00 for a very thin shirt, which we sell for 75 pesos, is not reasonable. She could’ve asked us for our supplier for a better quality and a cheaper shirt”, said one of the vendors.
The price of the white cloth which was allegedly used along the sides of the stalls was also deducted. However, many vendors disagreed with the payment of the cloth since many of them hadn’t received any and had bought their own.
There were also stall owners who complained about not receiving their cash bond because of violations. They were also asked to pay for the canvas, shirt, and cloth, but many of them didn’t pay.
Maribelle Chagwaten is currently the organizer for the Baratilyo (trade fair) along Harrison Road.** Virtue Marungoy, UB Intern
