BAGUIO CITY—The City Council has approved the closure of several main roads here on specific dates for the major events of the 22nd Baguio Flower Festival or Panagbenga from Feb. 1 to March 5.
On Feb. 1, South Drive Road from its junction with Teachers Camp up to Panagbenga Park, Upper Session Road up to Lower Session Road, Magsaysay Avenue up to its junction fronting the Baguio Center Mall, and Harrison Road up to its junction with Lake Drive will be closed to vehicles from 1 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the Panagbenga grand opening parade and elimination round of the street dancing competition.
Burnham Lake Drive, from the Ganza up to the Solibao restaurant, was already one-way to traffic starting Jan. 19 to let landscapers put up their respective masterpieces for the opening of the month-long Baguio Blooms Exposition and Exhibition on Feb. 1.
Burnham Lake Drive and Juan Luna Drive will be totally closed to vehicular traffic from Feb. 1 to March 5 to enable the full-blast operation of the Baguio Blooms Expo.
The legislators also approved the use of the Melvin Jones football field for the grand opening parade on Feb. 1, the “Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom” Panagbenga kite-flying challenge, Panagbenga variety show, and other family-oriented events on Feb. 12, the grand street dancing competition on Feb. 25, and the grand float parade on Feb. 26.
On Feb. 25, South Drive from the Military Cut-Off rotunda to Lower Session Road, Magsaysay Avenue and Harrison Road will be closed to vehicles from 1 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the grand street dancing parade.
On Feb. 26, Upper Session Road from Military Cut-Off to Lower Session and Harrison will be closed from 1 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the grand float parade.
The whole stretch of Session Road from SM rotunda to Malcolm Square will be closed to traffic from Feb. 27 to March 5 to pave the way for the “Session Road in Bloom” exhibit.
The use of Wright Park on March 4 was approved for the Pony Boys Day, and the Baguio Athletic Bowl will be used for the closing and awarding ceremonies and the grand fireworks display on March 5.
The council also approved the usual rerouting of Victory Liner buses to have their passenger loading and unloading at the Baguio Convention Center grounds instead of their new terminal from 5 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Feb. 1, 25 and 26. That would ensure the unobstructed use of Upper Session Road as assembly point of all participants on those dates for the events.
However, the council said trucks cannot enter the Melvin Jones football field, and heavy vehicles will only be allowed at the Ganza parking area. Equipment thus has to be manually carried to the stage and other portions of the football ground.