BAGUIO CITY – Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Mike Sueno commended city residents for the discipline they displayed to make sure that the conduct of the major highlights of the 22nd edition of Panagbengaas smoothly and peacefully done to the satisfaction of the viewing public.
Sueno, who served as the city’s guest of honor and speaker during the grand float parade, also aired his appreciation to the city residents for deciding to stay home and giving the opportunity to visitors not only from the different parts of the country but also from other parts of the world to witness the flower-decorated floats that were paraded along Upper Session road up to the Melvin Jones football field where the public had a chance to appreciate the 22 floats during the day.
“While we were walking along the parade route, I took the chance to talk with the spectators and asked them where they came from and to my surprise, most of them came from different parts of the country, which only shows that city residents gave way for them to witness the highlights of the flower festival,” Sueno stressed.
The DILG official appreciated the peaceful and orderly conduct of the festivities through the cooperation of the huge crowd that gathered along the parade route, citing that the way the organizers conducted the highlights of the festival is worthy of emulation by other festival organizers in the different parts of the country.
According to him, Baguio City was able to recover from the rubbles of the July 16, 1990 killer earthquake and emerged as one of the major educational, trade and commerce centers in north Luzon and has sustained this world-class festival as one of the preferred tourist attractions in the country.
Panagbenga is the only festival in the country that was included in the list of the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA) and will be part of the World Festivals this year.
Secretary Sueno claimed the discipline of spectators who came from different parts of the world only shows their desire to witness the display of quality flower-decorated floats prepared by the participating agencies, groups, and companies.
He pointed out city officials must continue bringing the country’s undisputed Summer Capital to greater heights as it is destined to achieve more accomplishments not only in tourism-related activities but also in education, trade, and commerce in the future.
Sueno asserted the key to robust development is the aggressive leadership of local officials complimented by responsible and dedicated citizens who harmoniously work together in the implementation of short-, medium- and long-term development strategies to spur the desired overall economic growth not only in urban centers but most especially in remote communities of the country supplemented by prospective investments from foreigners visiting the city and other areas of the region.
By Dexter A. See