AMID the indefinite postponement of all crowd drawing events, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said there is no standing ban for foreign visitors in effect for the city.
Magalong said tourists are still welcome to visit the city and enjoy the cool weather following the cancellation of the Baguio Flower Festival opening parade and the postponement of the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (Caraa).
The mayor ordered the cancellation of activities in a bid to protect residents as well as tourists from possible spread of respiratory diseases and a proactive measure to battle the emerging novel coronavirus.
Andrew Pinero, Baguio Flower Festival Incorporated media head, said options discussed during Friday with health officials and the city stakeholders eyed a summer staging of the festival if conditions prove unfavorable in the next three weeks.
Pinero said health officials discussed the low temperature of the city during these months which is conducive for respiratory ailments to thrive than the summer months.
He said options remain open for the BFFI with the guidance of the health officials as well as the newly formed city Task Force Corona Virus.
Despite the cancellation of the flower festival opening parade, the Baguio Blooms exposition and exhibition at the Baguio Convention Center grounds opened during the weekend with over 100 stalls of food and non–food products at the parking area of the Baguio Convention Center.
The landscaping exhibition and Competition culled 15 entries which are set the different areas in the city.
BFFI chief of staff Evangeline Payno in a statement asked for calm from the public as well as a message to build up the immune system of all.
“Protect yourselves, be vigilant of tourists but don’t panic,” Payno said.
The BFFI official said the indefinite cancellation of all crowd-drawing events is something Baguio needs to face as a city.
The annual festival opened with simple opening rites without the grand parade and drum and lyre competition.