Cleanest and greenest barangay contest on as part of Panagbenga fest

By Julie G. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY – As part of Baguio Flower Festival 2012, the search for the cleanest and greenest barangay from among the 128 barangays, including the roadside, garden and landscaping contest, is on.

The contest is part of the administrative order issued by Mayor Mauricio Domogan last year for the Panagbenga 2012 activities.

According to Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda, chairperson for the search committee, the contest criteria and guidelines was approved during an earlier barangay coordinators meeting.

In an meeting with the search committee also, it was agreed that the contest goes on, although the awarding shall be done in May.

This is for the barangays to have enough time to prepare their respective barangays including roadside, garden and landscapes, as they are all considered as contestants.

The competition which utilizes only one set of criteria, introduces a fresh approach in the first stage of judging, where barangay officials participate in the district level.

Said criteria is; cleanliness and orderliness, 40%; greening, garden and landscaping, 35%; and sustainable innovation and initiatives, 25%. The last criterion is an off-shoot of previous experiences where garden-entries are abandoned after the contest. Accordingly, the gardens are expected to be sustained and maintained for next year’s festival

The punong barangay or his duly authorized representative in each district composes the district level judges, which shall conduct visitation and judging of barangays from another district.

The 20 district coordinators, which shall act as district judges shall draw lots simultaneously, to select their place of judging, with a representative from the Special Services Division and the Office of Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda. No district judges shall be allowed to visit and judge its own district.

As to the guidelines, the barangay with the highest tabulated score shall automatically be the district entry to the contest. Any tie in the scores should be decided by the district judges.

Results shall be submitted to the city level judges who shall go on with the validation, through visitation of the actual entries.

Cash prizes and trophies shall be awarded on May 7, 2012 during the flag ceremony at the city hall grounds.

The barangays are given until March 31 to prepare their gardens and barangays for the contest, as district judging shall be done on April 10-21. District winners shall be submitted to the city level judges on April 24, while the city level judging shall be on April 25-30.

Councilor Tabanda heads the committee, with Ms. Cathy Dela Rosa as co-chairperson. Ms. OnieAguinalde, Special Services Division of the City Mayor’s Office OIC Noel Mabutas, Public Information Officer Ramon Dacawi, Councilor Philian Louise Weygan-Allan, Councilor Perlita Chan-Rondez, Councilor Joel Alangsab, Councilor NicasioPalaganas, Atty. George Fortea of the Congressman’s Office, Architect Joseph Alabanza and CEPMO head Cordelia Lacsamana are members of the committee.