THE stage is all set for the much talked about grand street and float parades in this year’s Baguio Flower Festival (BFF).
As of Feb. 25, there are 29 participating companies and organizations in the float parade and 23 schools in the street dancing parade.
Baguio Flower Festival executive committee chief of staff Dangal Guevarra Jr. said the committee doesn’t expect any more participants since it will be difficult to put up a float in two days.
The 29 participating floats are: MNTC, Creworks Asia, Psalmstree Enterprises, Inc., Abanao Square, GMA Network, Inc., AMA Computer College, Cebuana Lhuillier, Megalopolis Properties Inc, PNP, Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, San Miguel Brewery, Inc., Ikatlong Lahi Gay Association, Aegis PeopleSupport, Inc., International Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Land Reform Beneficiaries Association, Inc., Shopping Center Management Corporation-SM City Baguio, Glamorouso World’s Famous Fashion, Baguio Health Gym Club, Jollibee Foods Corporation, Assemblies of GOD, Baguio Country Club, LBC, City of Baguio, Philippine Tourism Authority, Samsung, Float of Prospero Pichay, Alabanza Meat Products, and M. Lhuillier.
The 23 street dancing participants are composed of: Baguio Central School, Dona Aurora Elementary School, John Hay Elementary School, Quezon Hill Elementary School, Lucban Elementary School, Sped, Dona Nicasia Elementary School, Mabini Elementary School in the elementary division.
In the high school division the sole contestant is the Baguio City National High School-Special Program for the Arts. Pines City Colleges and SLU-CCPG join for the college division.
Lorma Colleges, ST Theresita’s School-Tabuk, IHG-Baguio, Umingan National High School, Alfonso-Tabora Elementary School, Philkor Disabled Artist Mission Inc, Balili Elementary School, Baguio Japanese Residents Society, Inc., Teotro-Pino Dance Troupe, Manaoag National High School, and Loakan Elementary School for the open category.
Traffic Management branch head Engelbert Soriano said the traffic scheme for the parades are ready to be implemented.
He said police officers and volunteers will put no parking signs as early as 12 a.m. of Feb. 26 and the traffic re-routing will start at 3 a.m.
Deputy city director for operations David Mariano said the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) is ready to secure the public during the parade.
He said the BCPO together with its force multipliers will focus on managing the crowd and preventing crimes.
Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. said he has ordered BCPO not to use guns during the parade.
“We really want to showcase a gunless society,” Bautista said.
BFF executive committee chairman Anthony de Leon said as of the moment most of the hotels are fully booked.
He said additional visitors will just have to use transient houses.
“According to initial reports, there are more visitors this year compared last year,” de Leon said.
De Leon said the water supply will not be a problem as he is yet to receive any complaints regarding lack of water. De Leon also denied the lack of flowers as there are no complaints on this.
He said the Panagbenga is the time for the flower vendors to maximize their revenues.
“This is the time when vendors and suppliers put their price on premium but we can allow them to do that,” de Leon said.