City officials approved the temporary closure and use of various roads and the re-routing of Victory Liner buses and other bus lines during the celebration of the Panagbenga, otherwise known as the Baguio Flower Festival.
Under Ordinance No. 03, series of 2023, the roads that will be closed during the respective time and date are along South Drive from the entrance of Baguio Teachers Camp up to Panagbenga Park, from Panagbenga Park to Lower Session road, Session road, Magsaysay Avenue up to the intersection fronting the Baguio Center Mall, from the intersection of Harrison road and Lake Drive fronting the Baguio Patriotic School for the grand opening parade – February 1, 2023, 1 am to 3 pm; Juan Luna Drive and a portion of lake Drive skate board area near the tourism police information booth for the Baguio Blooms market encounter – January 31, 2023 for ingress and set up and February 1 – March 5, 2023 and up to 5 am of March 6, 2023 for setting down and clearing; whole stretch of Session road for Panagbenga Sunday showcase – February 5, 12 and 19, 2023; from South Drive, Military Cutoff rotunda to lower Session road, Magsaysay Avenue and Harrison road for the grand street dancing parade – February 25, 2023, 1 am to 3 pm; from South Drive, Military Cutoff rotunda to lower Session road, Magsaysay Avenue and Harrison road to Jose Abad Santos Drive and Lake Drive for the grand float parade – February 26, 2023, 1 am to 3 pm; and whole stretch of Session Road from rotunda to the corner of Magsaysay Avenue fronting the Maharlika Livelihood Center for Session road in Bloom, a portion of Gov. Pack Road for the main stage, emergency ingress and egress for garbage collection trucks, Assumption road for emergency ingress and egress for delivery trucks/vans of pavilion owners and garbage collection trucks, Fr. Carlu loop for BBPICAG emergency ingress and egress, for delivery trucks and vans of pavilion owners and garbage collection trucks, Calderon St. and Perfecto St. for emergency ingress and egress, police outpost, delivery trucks and vans of pavilion owners and garbage collection trucks and Mabini St. open to traffic only.
The council stipulated that the Panagbenga 2023 Policy and Program Review Committee must meet conditions such as, coordinate with the Baguio City Police Office–Traffic Enforcement Unit (BCPO-TEU) and the City Engineering Office–Traffic and transportation Management Division (CEO-TTMD) to address concerns on putting up of signages and indicate the alternative route or road; to conduct routine works and assign personnel to oversee traffic in the area, including the posting of standard warning signs; place information or directory signs in all alternative routes 2 weeks before the start of all 2023 Panagbenga events indicating dates and time; roads designated as alternate routes must be equipped with traffic personnel from the BCPO-TEU, CEO-TTMD and other qualified or duly authorized personnel of the Panagbenga committee to assist the motorists from the free movement of traffic and constant coordination and consultation with the barangay officials affected in the closure of roads and traffic police as needed for proper traffic monitoring.
The body added that the re-routing must be in coordination with the BCPO-TEU- barangay officials, and all affected establishments if necessary.
However, the listed roads and areas shall not be used by barangays, individuals, or by group of individuals for their own trade fairs or activities during the duration of the flower festival from February 1 to March 6, 2023. No trade fairs or activities in public areas not included in the Panagbenga lined up activities shall be approved by the local government within the same period.
According to the ordinance, the traffic advisory or guidelines set shall be observed, particularly the affected adjoining streets and roads of Session road.
The council also granted the request for re-routing of Victory Liner buses and other bus lines from 5 a.m. to 12 a.m. on February 1, 25 and 26, 2023 as the assembly point for all the participants in the opening day parade, grand street dancing parade and grand floral parade, respectively, to ensure the unobstructed use of upper Session road.
Further, Juan Luna Drive and portions of Lake Drive, particularly the front of the tourist police information booth and skateboard area, shall be used for the set up and the conduct of the month-long market encounter on January 31 up to 5am of March 6, 2023 subject to conditions such as the legitimate vendors allowed in the area shall not be displaced in coordination with the City Environment and Parks Management office (CEPMO) and the access road to the Ibaloi Heritage Garden, which should not be less than 4 meters, shall be unobstructed at all times during the duration of the event. The boundary line between the market encounter area and the access road shall be sealed, barricaded for safety.
The council emphasized that in the event that the Baguio Athletic Bowl will not be completed in time during the staging for the Panagbenga calendared events, all activities programmed in the said area shall be moved to the Melvin Jones football ground.
