Rules set for Panagbenga clean and green contests

By Julie G. Fianza BAGUIO CITY – Barangays vying for being the city’s cleanest and greenest this coming Panagbenga festival shall be categorized into two, as agreed in a meeting by committee head Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda.

The final guidelines are also being crafted with district officers to be called for a “re-categorization” meeting this week. Other issues such as procedures, time table and awarding date shall also be discussed by barangay and district officials.

Feedback last year as to barangays’ either general lay-out and lack of space for greenery as basis for joining or declining to join the contest reached committee chair Councilor Tabanda, thus the re-categorization.

Some barangays were either “planned” or unstructured; spacious or crowded with buildings; and have ample natural greenery or no space for plants.

Some members of the committee including private citizens’ representative Cathy de la Rosa, however suggested the use of planters on sidewalks, and vertical or rooftop gardens as alternative. Visual appeal would be considered in this level, it was suggested.

Other considerations for the two-category contest are the presence or absence of: waterways which are included in the judging; of main highways or minor roads and alleys; population density; proportion of residential and commercial zone; and parking zones; all within the barangays.

There were apprehensions more barangays would fall under the category with less greenery, more population, with more commercial and parking zones.

The contest would also be more barangay-based as areas within a district may fall in separate categories. Councilor Joel Alangsab who was present during the meeting also cited amount of prizes given out last year: P100,000 for the first prize, P80,000 for the second, P60, 000 and P40,000 for the third and fourth prizes, respectively.

He expressed confidence that with the two categories, the appropriated amount from Panagbenga funds would also be doubled, with assistance from the Association of Barangay Captains office.

Punong barangays as judges in the preliminary level shall also be looked into; with suggestions that the Alay SaKalinisan Inc. take the job. Aesthetic experts would then do the final judging.

Another barangay contest would be the roadside garden category, it was learned.A separate main roadside contest as suggested last year by national tourism officials shall be participated in by barangays along Kennon road, Naguilian Highway, Marcos Highway and Halsema highway, all entrances to the city.