Mayor Magalong approves Baguio Blooms extension

Mayor Benjamin Magalong approved the extension of Baguio Blooms exposition located at Convention Center Grounds from March 8 to April 15 to give vendors the chance to recoup profit.

Chief of Staff of the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, Inc. (BFFI) Evangeline Payno said there is a decrease in sales and visitors during the first week of the exposition due to the cancellation of big activities in the Panagbenga and COVID-2019 scare.

“During the announcement of the cancellation of the parade and after which, we felt that, during the first week of the Baguio Blooms, the sales from the booths that were participating in the convention center declined. It’s a dramatic decline not only in terms of sales but to traffic… and we felt that, because the people are afraid to go out,” said Panyo.

Refunds

Panyo added that registered tenants went from 62 to 49 since the announcement of the revised dates of Panagbenga events.

“Because of the press conference last February 12, announcing the revised dates and moving the dates of the major events in the festival, we’ve had 62 tenants registered… some withdrawals were made since then and now were down to 49,” said Panyo.

For those tenants who withdrew their slots, the BFFI already provided the refund for rents.

“We’ve already refunded those who were really no longer… nag-give up na. ‘Yung mga nag-give up talaga we processed the refund,” Panyo added.

(We’ve already refunded those who no longer [wanted to participate] and gave up already. We processed their refunds.)

She also said that withdrawals will continue unless the government approves the extension of the Baguio Blooms Exposition.

“We’ve never refused any request for withdrawals. If they really feel that they can no longer sustain and the situation does not improve then we respect their decision. We’ve made that clear to the tenants,” Panyo said.

Maintenance

John Kimo, president of the Panagbenga Landscapers’ Association said that since the COVID-19 scare, there is a huge loss in their profit.

“Tatta knowing nga adda daytoy scare iti virus, haan kami nga nakalako. So adda ti loss mi, dakkel,” said Kimo.

(Knowing that there is this virus scare, we cannot sell anything. So we have a huge loss.)

Kimo added that landscapers spend Php 300,000 to support the city during Panagbenga, so they plead for the extension of the exposition in order to gain profit.

“Iti maysa nga landscaper, umabot dayta ti 300,000, so as a support iti city. So, dawaten mi ti tulong iti City, no mampay adda daytoy kua tayo nga ma-extend tapno makalako kami, adda kenya yun nga law maker iti City no anya ti maitulong yu kanyami ket dakkel unay nga pasalamat mi,” Kimo added.

(One landscaper spends Php 300,000 to support the city. So we seek the City for extension in order for us to sell. It’s up to you as law makers of the City and we are thankful to whatever help you can give.)

Convention Center Operation

Baguio City Administrator Bonifacio Dela Peña said the extension of the Baguio Blooms will not affect the operation of the Convention Center scheduled March 9.

“[There is] the Baguio Blooms there and we have the Convention [Center], it turned out that the Baguio Blooms will be an additional feature of the Baguio Convention,” said Dela Peña.

Low Traffic

Panyo added that booths cannot sell because there is low foot traffic.

“So, ang problema nila hindi sila makabenta dahil nga walang foot traffic. We feel that we have a better chance of recouping the cost if we extend. Because if we extend, we have more time to have people get used of the area because this is really the first time that we are holding it in the Baguio Convention Center… ganoon din po noong nasa Lake Drive pa siya, it really also took some time to really promote that area, and before, soon enough, people picked up,” reasoned Panyo.

(The problem is they can’t make profit because there is no foot traffic. We feel that we have a better chance of recouping the cost if we extend. Because if we extend, we have more time to have people get used of the area because this is really the first time, we are holding it in the Baguio Convention Center. It was the same when it was in Lake Drive, it really also took some time to really promote that area, and before, soon enough, people picked up.)

Last year, 160 stalls were positioned at the Ganza area in Burnham Park.

By Jaira Palpallatoc