PARADE for the Baguio Flower Festival has been set.
Andrew Pinero, media head of the Baguio Flower Festival Incorporated (BFFI), confirmed the grand opening parade is scheduled on March 21 while the grand street dance parade will be set on March 28 followed by the grand float parade on March 29.
Pinero said Session Road in Bloom is slated March 30 extending to April 5.
The March staging of the festival gives way to hoped clearing of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019–nCoV) as discussed with city stakeholders last week.
Pinero said plans for the request for extension made by the BFFI was approved by Mayor Benjamin Magalong to allow operations of flower festival activities a chance to recover from the impact of postponements caused by health issues over the 2019–nCoV.
The announcement of activities for the annual festival came in the wake of a health advisory by the Department of Health (DOH) on concerts and other public events and gatherings.
“With the ongoing threat of the spread of the 2019-nCoV, the DOH strongly urges the public to avoid attending, participating in, and organizing events that draw a huge number of attendees. The DOH likewise recommends the cancellation of such planned big events or mass gatherings until further advice,” the DOH advisory said.
The health bulletin details that to further minimize the risk of contracting 2019-nCoV, the public is advised to avoid crowded places and continue to practice self-protection measures.
The DOH has set up a command center which will focus solely on 2019-nCoV acute to expedite coordination and communication among government agencies involved in the response and management efforts.
The ongoing Baguio Blooms Exposition and Exhibition (BBEE) within the Baguio Convention Center still falls low on participation by exhibitor traders as the city earlier announced indefinite postponement of high impact activities for the flower festival, now on its 25th edition, known as the Panagbenga.
The month-long BBEE opened February 1, 2020 to jumpstart the 25th edition of the Panagbenga and provide residents and visitors with landscape attractions and flower-inspired handicrafts and souvenir items.