BAGUIO CITY – For the first time since its inception in 1995, the Summer Capital’s largest festival will not be held this year due to the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that has affected numerous countries around the world including the Philippines.
Pres. Rodrigo Duterte has earlier declared a Public Health Emergency throughout the country due to the virus that will enable a whole of government response to mitigate its effects and impact on the country and people.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong made the announcement of the 25th Baguio Flower Festival or Panagbenga Celebration’s cancellation in Monday’s press conference at City Hall after what he disclosed were long and careful deliberations with the city inter-agency task force and other concerned stakeholders.
“This was not an easy decision to make but it is better to overreact than be sorry,” the Mayor stressed.
Magalong also suspended the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) competitions with the city as this year’s host; operation of the night market along Harrison Road for 14 days starting March 10; and the pedestrianization of Session Road every Sunday depending on further assessments of the situation in the coming weeks.
The Mayor said he met with the night market vendor group representatives and that they wholeheartedly agreed on the temporary suspension of its operations.
Magalong is also asking organizers of crowd-drawing events scheduled in the city to consider temporarily suspending their activities to prevent the possible spread of the disease.
The Mayor appealed to the public to stay calm and not panic but instead continue to practice proper hygiene, adhere to advisories put out by health authorities, and not spread false information thru social media or other outlets that would only cause confusion or panic.
“We enjoin everybody to be calm and united as we pray that a solution to this disease will immediately be found,” Magalong stressed.
The Department of Education has likewise suspended all scheduled national and regional events involving students from various localities, such as regional meets, until further notice.**gaby keith
