BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan vetoed a resolution of the city council allowing the conduct of separate trade fairs by organizers to be held at the Juan Luna Drive within Burnham Park from 10 February to 08 March 2015.
Domogan noted in the resolution that the supposed trade fairs by the two organizers, Shining Star and Pilipinas Realty Management Corporation, should be incorporated as part of the earlier approved Baguio Blooms Exhibition and Exposition now underway at the Burnham Lake Drive in order to merit his approval.
“The approved trade fair is not consistent with the city’s trade fair ordinance but if it will be considered by the council as an extension of the on-going Baguio Blooms Exhibition and Exposition, it will be granted for the remaining period until March 8,” Domogan said.
He said once the council agrees with his position, there will be no organizer of such activity since all transactions must be coursed through the Panagbenga committee in charge of the Baguio Blooms which is now chaired by City Treasurer Alicia L. Onoza.
On the statement of Onoza during the previous budget deliberations that her only role in the Baguio Blooms committee is for auditing, Domogan said she must exercise her full authority over the activities done in the area and the pertinent documents covering such activities considering that she was the duly authorized chairperson to look into the Baguio Blooms.
The local chief executive underscored no private organization should interfere in the affairs of the Baguio Blooms committee considering that it was already agreed upon that it will be the city government that will administer the affairs of the market encounter.
Earlier, the city council approved a resolution that no private entity should be allowed to interfere in the affairs of the Baguio Blooms Market Encounter now underway at the Burnham Lake Drive and authorized the city treasurer to exercise her full authority in managing one of the major highlights of the flower festival without fear or favor.
The market encounter was envisioned by organizers to be one of the major attractions of the flower festival where top caliber landscapes and local products will be showcased but it has slowly turned into a display of various food products that are also in direct competition with the products sold in the city’s public market.
Onoza committed to the city council that she will try her best to look into the pertinent documents of the stalls that are being rented out in the Market Encounter and the pertinent rentals thereof prior to the submission of the desired report to the local legislative body relative thereto.
