Councilor Perlita Chan-Rondez, chair of the City Council committee on tourism, special events, parks and playgrounds, said that in the celebration of the 2008 Panagbenga, measures to ensure that regulations are complied with by trade fair organizers and participants have to be imposed.
Rondez said organizers that misrepresent, those that do not conform to sanitation standards and those that ruin city properties should be held responsible.
She added that in the proposed amendment to the Trade Fair Ordinance, those found violating the conditions set by the city government must be held criminally liable, should be made to pay for the damages caused and permanently barred from holding any trade fair activity.
The conduct of trade fairs have consistently been criticized by various sectors due to the sale of products that directly compete with legitimate businessmen already situated in the department stores, souvenir shops and the public market.
There were also allegations that trade fairs are tainted with corruption because taxes due the city government are not duly paid and accounted for.
With the Baguio Tourism Council taking over the management of trade fairs that are incorporated in the Panagbenga, Rondez is confident that rules governing the conduct of fairs would be diligently pursued by the group.
Rondez also said that to prevent the sale of fake and smuggled items, products should undergo pre-evaluation by the Department of Trade and Industry as well as by the Bureau of Food and Drugs.
In the meantime, businessmen and private residents who attended Saturday's public hearing called by Councilor Elaine Sembrano, chair of the committee on market, trade and commerce, agreed that trade fairs should be strictly regulated.
One businessman from the city market said many organizers resort to misrepresentation by promising to sell imported products but actual inspection of products would reveal that these are bought from Divisoria or from other markets and are sold here for higher prices.
Another citizen suggested that trade fairs should be held in the barangays to help augment their fund-raising activities. (RO)
