March 29, 2024

The city council through Ordinance 3, s. 2023 has approved the proposed schedule of programs and activities for the celebration of Panagbenga.
The ordinance allows the temporary closure and use on specific time and dates of the city’s roads and areas as venues for the festivals’ various undertakings as recommended by the city council committee on public utilities and traffic legislation, based on the request of the PanagbengaPolicy and Program Review Committee chaired by City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and co-chaired by Anthony de Leon.
The activities and roads/areas to be temporarily closed are the following:
Feb. 1, from 1 a.m. to 3 p.m., grand opening day parade, along South Drive from the entrance of Teachers’ Camp up to Panagbenga Park going down Lower Session Road; Magsaysay Avenue up to the intersection of Baguio Center Mall to the intersection of Harrison Road and Lake Drive fronting the Baguio Patriotic School;
From Jan. 31 up to 5 a.m. of March 6, Baguio Blooms: A Market Encounter at Juan Luna Drive and portion of Lake Drive/skateboard area near the tourist police information booth; and the Sunday Showcase on Feb. 5, 12 and 19 on whole stretch of Session Road;
Feb. 25, from 1 a.m. to 3 p.m., grand street dance parade, from South Drive, Military Cut-Off rotund to Lower Session, Magsaysay Avenue, and Harrison Road;
Feb. 26, 1 a.m. to 3 p.m, grand float parade, from South Drive, Military Cut-Off rotund to Lower Session, Magsaysay Avenue, and Harrison to Jose Abad Santos Drive and Lake Drive.
From Feb. 26 up to 5 a.m.of March 6 after the float parade, Session Road in Bloom, whole stretch of Session Road;
Adjoining streets or roads of Session Road, particularly Gov. Pack Road – for the main stage, emergency ingress/egress, and garbage collection trucks; Assumption Road – emergency ingress/egress, delivery vans of pavilions, and garbage trucks; Fr. Carlu Loop – BB-Picag ingress/egress, delivery vans of pavilions, and garbage trucks; Calderon and Perfecto streets – ingress/egress, place outpost, delivery vans of pavilions, and garbage trucks; and Mabini St., which shall be open to traffic only.
The ordinance prohibits the use of the above roads or streets by barangays, individuals, or group of individuals for their trade fairs or activities for the duration of the festival;
Jan. 31 to March 5, Professional Landscaping Competition and Exposition; Feb. 12, Handog ng Panagbenga sa Pamilya Baguio: Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom, Kite Flying Competition, Cultural Show, and Fitness Frenzy, all at Melvin Jones;
Feb. 18, cultural dance competitions, Melvin Jones; and Feb. 19, fluvial parade by the Department of Tourism-CAR and Mardi Gras at Burnham Lake and park grounds;
Feb. 25 and 26, Sponsor’s Row at Melvin Jones, booths are allocated to sponsors as part of concession; and March 4, from 6 a.m. to midnight, Pony Boy’s Day program at Wright Park;
March 5, set-up and ingress for grand fireworks display, subject to appropriate permits from the Bureau of Fire Protection, in designated areas or stations of Melvin Jones, Burnham Park, and Session Road; and
March 5, from 8 a.m. to midnight, closing ceremonies and awarding, Baguio Athletic Bowl.
In the event that developmental works at Baguio Athletic Bowl are not yet completed during the staging of the calendared events, all activities programmed in the area shall be moved to the Melvin Jones.
To ensure the unobstructed use of Upper Session Road as the assembly point for the major parades, the bus lines, in coordination with the Traffic Management Unit and barangay officials, shall be rerouted to their respective or alternate terminals from 5 a. m. to midnight on Feb. 1, 25, and 26.
The city council has also approved Ordinance 5, s. 2022, which declares every first Friday of October of every year as a “Teachers’ Day in the City of Baguio” in sincere recognition of the essential role of teachers and their dedication in nurturing and educating the children, youth, and learner-adults.
The measure is pursuant to Republic Act 10743, which declares Oct. 5 as National Teachers’ Day and Presidential Proclamation 242, s. 2011 declaring Sept. 5 to Oct. 5 every year as National Teachers’ Month.
The ordinance also provides for the creation of the Baguio City Teachers’ Day Council chaired by the Baguio City Schools Division superintendent.
Members are the chair of city council committee on education, culture, creativity, and historical research; president of the Liga ng Sangguniang Kabataan, representing the youth and students/learners; and teacher representatives, one each from the associations of public schools and the associations/unions of private schools;
Representatives from the Commission on Higher Education regional office; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-Baguio; Federation of Parents-Teachers Association; and from the outstanding teachers when already available.
The council shall be responsible for the formulation and approval of guidelines and mechanics in selecting outstanding teachers; accept nominations, screen and come up with a shortlist, and recommend to the city mayor who will choose one outstanding teacher from the higher education, vocational, high school, elementary, and kindergarten; prepare programs and guidelines of activities for the Teachers’ Day; and such other adopted functions for the realization of the Ordinance.
An amount of P500,000, which may be increased based on the activities adopted for the effective implementation of the program, shall be appropriated from city government funds.
Copies of the ordinances were forwarded to the city mayor’s office for signing.