FLOWERS from Benguet province will abound during the Panagbenga Festival.
Baguio Flower Festival chairman Freddie Alquiros said the supply of flowers from the province will be enough to fill each and every float entry for the annual festival.
Alquiros said the suppliers from the province already know of the influx of supply needed for the annual festival. “Alam na nila and this year there will be an increase of floats for the parade.”
In La Trinidad, Barangay Bahong is considered as the center of the local cut-flower industry in this part of Benguet with cut-flower-producing barangays of this town, such as Ambiong and Alno.
Panagbenga 2013 is themed, “A blooming Odyssey,” kicking off with a grand opening parade and the drum and lyre competition on February 1.
Highlights of the festival are the Grand Street Dancing Parade on February 23 while the Grand Float Parade is on February 24.
A steady supply of flowers comes from Valley cut flower farmers, especially during the flower festival season where the demand increases.
This year Alquiros said the demand may get higher than usual with the number of floats increasing. Last year there were 26 flower floats, which paraded the 2 kilometer stretch of road in the city, filled with fresh flower designs.
Department of Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez said with the right marketing and promotion, the city and the province will be recognized as the flower capital of Asia.
Benguet flower farmers are enjoying a surge in sales as the season for cut flowers are on a peak. For the year 2009, the total production of cut flowers in the province of Benguet reached a total of 23.4M dozens from 821 hectares.
Growers supply flowers in Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, and Bicol Region.