THE Baguio Athletic Bowl will remain as the main venue for the Grand Float Parade of the 2016 Panagbenga this coming February 28.
This is despite the warning that heavy loads may directly damage the newly installed rubber tracks and could displace the lawn area inside the running oval.
According to reports, Mayor Mauricio Domogan is vent ire on using the area during the highlight of the annual Flower Festival next month.
The city-owned sports facility will also be the main venue for the Grand Street Parade on February 27.
Officials from the Philippine Sports Commission, who were called by the Department of Public Works and Highways Baguio City Engineering Office, advised not to hold any events, aside from sports inside the oval area.
PSC architect Noel Elnar, who inspected the sports facility, made the recommendation to ban parades at the oval to preserve the track.
According to Elnar, rubber running tracks are not designed to support heavy loads such as float parades.
“Personal experience taught the PSC that such activities from the parade will bring damage sa ilalatag na rubber track. With this, we strongly suggest the city to propose a different venue for the activity or find a solution if possible,” Elnar said.
The PSC official cited the Cebu City Sports Center which suffered considerable damage because of holding their annual Sinulog Festival.
“Yun ngang weight pa lang ng normal vehicle na dadaan sa oval could already damage the tracks, ano pa kaya kung float na,” Elnar said.
“Actually, not even a smaller golf cart is advised to run through it kasi mabigat pa rin iyon,” the PSC official said adding only a standard cart is available for servicing the distribution of hurdles inside the running area.
If pushed, the same situation from the previous Panagbenga float parades is expected inside the newly renovated sports facility including hundreds of thousands of locals and tourist making their way to take photos beside the huge and beautifully designed floats, not to mention the litter left behind after.
The second phase renovations for Athletic Bowl are mainly being rushed as the city is scheduled to host the 2016 Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association meet February 6-10.