Council restricts trade fairs at People’s Park

BAGUIO CITY -- City officials recently restricted conduct of trade fairs and similar activities here at Malcom Square or People’s Park and its surrounding vicinity, specifically Perfecto Street.
    Under resolution 724, series of 2023, the City Council stated that as early as August 17, 1956, the city council passed Ordinance No. 264, series of 1956 to prohibit certain acts contrary to the proper care and maintenance of public parks, playgrounds, gardens and plazas, roads or streets that sell or offer for sale or peddle of any food stuff, fruit, vegetables or ice cream in public park or garden; provided that any person holding any concession or lease duly authorized by the body may sell at stalls or structures constructed by the local government for the purpose, only light food stuff usually for snacks and non-intoxicating drinks.
    Various ordinances were also passed by the body to regulate the conduct of a
trade fair or other similar activities in the city such as Ordinance No. 049, series of 1994 or the Trade Fair Ordinance of 1994; Ordinance No. 001, series of 1997 which amended certain provisions of Ordinance NO, 049, series of 1994; Ordinance No. 32, series of 2006 that further amended Section 12 of Ordinance No, 049 series of 1994 as amended; Ordinance No. 10 series of 1997 and Ordinance No. 13, series of 2012 that furthermore amending the Trade Fair Ordinance of 1994.
    The council noted that Malcolm Square or People’s Park has been a favorite venue of organizers for the conduct of trade fairs considering that the public place is located at the heart of the city where residents and visitors converge as it is near the city public market and the famous Burnham Park, the city’s premier tourist destination.
    The People’s Park has been earlier declared as the city’s freedom park where gatherings groups may be conducted for the redress of their grievances.