BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Benjamin Magalong yesterday announced the cancellation of the Panagbenga Flower Festival this year following a meeting between the city government and officials of the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. (BFFFI).
Magalong said they have decided to move the prestigious and crowd drawing event this year with the health and safety of residents as the primary concern due to the entry of the UK variant of COVID-19 in the country and the pending roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Last year, the 25th Panagbenga was cancelled from its opening to the closing program due to the threat of COVID-19.
Last December, Magalong approved in principle the conduct of limited events of the Panagbenga Flower Festival from February until the first week of March to pave the way for the local tourism industry to regain its vibrance.
Panagbenga has the distinction of being the only festival in the country included in the elite list of festivals in the world under the hospices of the International Festivals and Events Association.
Meanwhile, Magalong said the city government has crafted the strategies for the COVID-19 vaccination of residents to achieve herd immunity once the vaccines to be purchased by the city and provided by the national government and the private sector are available.
The city has procured a number of freezers to enhance its vaccine storage capacity in preparation for the expected arrival of the vaccines purchased from AstraZenica and the expected implementation of vaccination by the third quarter of this year. (Zaldy Comanda)