BAGUIO City Mayor Mauricio Domogan has given into calls to pullout the Burnham trade fair from the skating rink tree park.
Domogan on Monday, February 11, said appeals made to the legislative have been made in vain, pushing him to transfer the entire Baguio Blooms to the Ganza parking area.
The mayor added he does not want to debate with the council, recognizing the power of the council to approve use of park spaces but stood his ground that the current location does not violate the trade fair law, environment code, and local government code.
In a letter to the council, the mayor said “time is of the essence and I therefore request that you approve the utilization of the Ganza parking area as the relocation of our Panagbenga Baguio Bloom component.”
Domogan added winning bidder Maribel Chegwaten's P13-million payment to the city will have to be recomputed.
The chief executive has also requested the landscapes remain at the skating rink area citing difficulties in relocating.
Last week, in a majority vote, the city voted to take down stalls at the skating rink area.
Councilor Faustino Olowan, who chairs on the committee on laws, said the contested area of the skating rink is the root of objection from the council and not the Baguio Blooms event.
Olowan said the city council should have been approached formally to consent to the area where the event will be held, standing the ground of a majority of colleagues the conduct of Baguio Blooms violates the local government code, the environment code as well as the trade fair law.
Domogan in his letter said “I do not insist to let the 2019 Panagbenga Baguio Bloom stay at the Skating Rink and its surrounding for it is obvious that this August body do not agree despite the explanations I made.”
Domogan sits as chairman for life if the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Incorporated [BFFFI], tasked to co organize the annual festival with the city.
The chief executive said the city council has to formally approve the transfer of the trade fair to Ganza area.