Council okays road closures for flower festival activities

Source: Julie G. Fianza

Baguio Midland Courier

The city council last week reiterated the roads to be closed and areas used for the staging of the Baguio Flower Festival.

Under ordinance 04- 2009, Jose Abad Santos Drive at Burnham Park continues to be closed for the market Encounter and Landscaping contest, until March 7. Other facilities are for merchandising and dining, with maintenance terms for proper sanitation and hygiene.

Today, Valentine’s Day shall be celebrated with a “Promenade at the Lake” fluvial parade and On the Lake Theatrical Show. The exclusive use of Burnham Lake for the show and coffee shop service area are from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight.

On Feb. 26 to 28, the road fronting Abanao Square shall be closed from 5 p.m. to midnight daily. Dubbed as “Abanao nights,” the area shall be closed for concerts and an outdoor bar.

On Feb. 27, Military Cut- Off Rotunda, Lower Session Road, Magsaysay Avenue, Harrison Road shall be closed from 12 midnight to 1 p.m. for the grand parade. The parade ends at the Athletic Bowl where field demonstrations shall be witnessed until 5 p.m.

The float parade makes use of Military Cut- Off Rotunda to Lower Session Road, and Harrison Road form 12 midnight up to 1 p.m. of Feb. 28. The floats however shall be seen at the Athletic Bowl until 5 p.m. of March 1.

As expected also Session Road, from SM Rotunda to Malcolm Square- Mercury Drug shall be closed from 12 noon on March 1 until midnight of March 7 for the Session Road in Bloom. Concerts, booths, and alfresco dining facilities shall be seen along the city’s main road for a week.

Gov. Pack Road shall be used as main stage, for emergency, ingress and egress for garbage collection trucks; while Calderon St. shall accommodate the Marikina Shoe Expo, and also for emergency, ingress and egress.

Assumption Rd., Fr. Carlu Loop, Perfecto St., Malcolm Square Road, shall all be used for emergency entrance and exit, for communication groups, delivery trucks, and garbage trucks. The said roads including Gov. Pack Road and Calderon Streets are not allowed to be used by their respective barangays, any individual or groups for their own trade fair or activities for the duration of Panagbenga 2010.

Melvin Jones field and grandstand at Burnham Park shall be used from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight on March 6 for the Pony Boys Day program and contest.

The Athletic Bowl shall be used for the closing ceremonies program and field performances from 8 a.m. to 12 midnight of March 7.

In addition, the Baguio Convention Center shall be used as Victory Liner passengers loading and unloading from 12 midnight to 12 noon on February 27 and 28. Traffic schemes have been worked out with the Baguio City Police Office, the city  ordinance states.

Published in the Baguio Midland Courier newspaper on February 14, 2010