Session Rd ordered closed for Panagbenga; No classes Feb 1

By Paul Rillorta

BAGUIO CITY – The scent of flowers will fill the air as the 17th edition of the Baguio Flower Festival starts in this mountain resort.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan also ordered the suspension of classes for Elementary and Secondary Levels both for public and private schools on Feb. 1.

“Suspending classes in both Elementary and High School levels will give them the opportunity to participate in the grand opening parade of the Panagbenga’ which falls on a Wednesday,” he said.

The grand opening parade is now converted into an open competition among participating elementary and secondary schools in the city.

This will jumpstart the bigger and better activities lined up for the month-long event.

The Panagbenga Flower Festival will be held Feb. 1 to March 4 with the theme “Community convergence for sustainable tourism Growth.”

Numerous traditional and community-led government supported activities will be featured during the event to boost the city’s robust tourism industry.

Classes for College level will also be suspended on Feb. 25 for the Grand street Dancing Parade.

Domogan also approved temporary closure of Session Road to vehicular traffic come Jan. 27 and certain days on February in line with the Pangabenga Festival.

The mayor said this discussed earlier in a forum with theme “Recreating People Friendly Session Road” which will be participated in by residents, students and visitors from Manila.

“The temporary closure of Session Road during the conduct of the activity will popularize the concept of public space and road sharing.” Domogan said. “This will also entail people to have a feel of the city’s landmark structures so they can appreciate Baguio City as it is.”

The organizers of the activity lined up events which would spice up the forum at the University of the Cordilleras theater.

The main concept would focus on the dream of some stakeholders for a carless Session Road which would in turn be replicated in major cities around the country.

The temporary closure will affect the whole stretch of Session Road from its junction with Magsaysay Avenue up to its junction with Fr. Carlo Loop from 8 am to 5 pm.

The junction of Session Road with Upper Lower Mabini Street will be kept open as alternate route for private and public vehicles.

Meantime, Domogan also ordered the temporary closure of major roads in and around the Central Business District (CBD) come February for the conduct of the 17thPanabenga Festival.

The South Drive Teachers Camp Gate to Military Cut-off rotunda to Lower Session Road and Harrison Road will be closed on February 1, 25 and 26 from 4 am to 1pm for the Flower Festival Opening parade, Grand Street parade and Grand Float Parade.

Upper Session Road (SM rotunda to Mercury Drug of Malcolm Square) to include roads and backstreets intersecting Session Road and Gov. Pack Road will also be closed on February 28 to March 6 midnight for the Session Road in Bloom.