CARNIVAL rides at Burnham Park will rise for the New Year.
Operation of the Belezar Ola carnival was again approved by the legislative with only councilor Mylen Yaranon opposing.
“They will be depriving the children of the park, it’s too congested, the rides are put together in such a small space and it will damage the area again without any assurance of repairs,” Yaranon lashed out.
Voting yes to the operations of the Ola carnival until the end of May were councilors Francisco Ortega VII, Levy Lloyd Orcales, Elmer Datuin, Faustino Olowan, Arthur Allad iw, Micheal Lawana, Leandro Yangot and Benny Bomogao.
The Ola carnival has been approved to set up at the Childrens Park area as early as January 7 until February 30 with operations to start February 1, paying a lease of P500,000 for a five month stint at the city’s busiest park.
Yaranon said she reminded the council on unfulfilled promises by Ola, President of Linked-in Corporation in the past, who left the Burnham Park children’s playground in disarray and in need of repairs after carnival operations shut down early this year.
The council did not heed Yaranon who voted to oppose the project against a unanimous decision to once again allow a carnival.
Yaranon said colleagues argued merits of the Ola carnival with Bomogao asserting it will be an alternative to the pricy SM Skyranch amusement park at Luneta Hill.
According to Yaranon, who was outnumbered and overpowered by her colleagues, even Lawana defended the Ola carnival saying it has brought joy to children while Yangot said adherence to guidelines will be assured for smooth operations.
Absent for the marathon session on Thursday were councilors Leah Farinas, Elaine Sembrano and Joel Alangsab.
Vice - Mayor Edison Bilog stepped out of the session hall early that day leaving councilor Peter Fianza as presiding officer and stripping him of the right to cast his vote.
While Avila, stepped out of the session hall.
The carnival was discussed at around 9 p.m. Monday night when the council convened to approve the 2019 budget and was inserted at the last portion of the meeting.
The committee on Human Rights, Laws and Justice headed by Olowan with members Avila (who did not sign the report) and Bomogao recommended approval of the request of Ola subject to the guidelines to be set forth by the executive department.
Mayor Maurico Domogan in an interview said the proposal of Ola will be studied but noted previous actions and feedback from the carnival will be taken into consideration before he will give the event a go signal.
This year, the carnival earned the ire of residents and netizens who alleged gambling as well as unsafe rides operate on site.
Previously, city experts inspected the carnival rides and deemed some to be unsafe but the rides continued to operate despite accidents and reports of children getting stuck.
The lease agreement used last year was the same with Ola requesting rent not be increased since he incurred losses in his previous operation with the city.
Ola is also not a member of the Philippine Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (Philaapa), the national association of the amusement parks and attractions industry affiliated with the global International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (Iaapa).