Politicians barred to campaign in Panagbenga highlights

LOCAL officials and organizers of the 24th edition of Panagbenga, popularly known as the Baguio Flower Festival, warned national candidates and their supporters they will not be allowed to campaign along the parade route to ensure orderliness in the conduct of the festival’s major events.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan said national candidates will be allowed to join the float and street dancing parade but will not be allowed to break the line just to shake hands with the people in the crowd and distribute their election paraphernalia as it will serve as a destruction to the smooth flow of the parades.

“We want the presence of national candidates in the two major flower festival parades for them to avail of the huge crowd that will be witnessing the said events but they should strictly adhere to the prescribed rules and regulations in the conduct of the said activities to ensure orderliness and prevent the unnecessary interruption while the said events are underway,” Domogan said.

The grand street dancing parade is scheduled for March 2 while the grand float parade will be held on March 3.

Anthony de Leon, general manager of the Baguio Country Club (BCC) and co-chairman of the Panagbenga Organizing Committee, said supporters of candidates are not prohibited from distributing election paraphernalia to the crowd but the same should be done in an orderly manner so as not to distract the attention of the people.

He appealed to interested national candidates and their supporters who want to join the two major flower festival parades to coordinate with the Panagbenga Organizing Committee. (PR)