Baguio cancels opening parade of annual Flower Festival

January 31, 2020

BAGUIO CITY  --  Baguio has cancelled Saturday’s opening parade of the Flower Festival or Panagbenga.

After meeting with key officials of the health department, the local City Health Services Office (CHSO), education department, tourism department and organizers of the Baguio Flower Festival 2020, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong cancelled Friday afternoon the opening parade for the month-long celebration.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said this was done as a precautionary measure against the entry of the 2019 Novel Corona Virus.

“It was a collective decision based on the latest developments,”  Andrew Pinero, spokesman of the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc., the private entity running the month-long for 20 years

“We find it prudent to wait for further information developments before making decisions on the highlights of the festival,” he added.

The Baguio Blooms flower and landscaping exposition at the grounds of the Baguio Convention Center will still open Saturday morning,  Pinero said.

There is no decision if the street dance and flower float parades will be held, he added.

The street dancing and flower float parade are slated on February 29 and March 1 respectively. DMS