BAGUIO CITY (PIA) – With the expected grand Baguio Flower Festival or Panagbenga this year, the Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CRDRRMC) recently conducted a Pre – Disaster Risk Assessment (PDRA) meeting as a pro-active approach.
CRDRRMC Chairperson and Office of Civil Defense Regional Director Albert Mogol, in presiding the meeting in January 5, outlined the importance of a whole – of – society approach in ensuring security and safety for Panagbenga, not only for the expected large number of tourists but also for the residents of Baguio and the nearby Benguet towns where visitors will pass going up to the city or may spillover.
PLTCOL Domingo Gambican of BCPO presenting the initial security plan for the February 1 Opening Parade and Program of Panagbenga 2023
Julius Santos of the City DRRMC presented the Panagbenga 2023 program of events and gave updates on safety and security plans.
The Panagbenga will open on February 1 and will last up to March 5. Among the crowd drawing events are the February 1 Opening Parade and Program and the Traditional Grand Float and Grand Street Dancing Parades set on February 25 and 26, respectively.
Santos informed that Mayor Benjamin Magalong has issued Executive Order No. 153, Series of 2023 that sets the composition and functions of the Peace and Order, Public Safety and Crowd Control Committee.
Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) City Operations and Management Unit Chief PLTCOL Domingo Gambican also presented the unit’s initial safety and security plan for Panagbenga 2023 which includes deployment of safety personnel especially for the opening parade and program and the grand float and street dancing parades.
The BCPO Security Plan also includes crowd control, traffic re-routing and traffic management as well as police personnel deployments in tourist areas, the city perimeters and on bus terminals.
With the annual Philippine Military Academy Alumni Homecoming also included in the scheduled events of the, the PMA also presented its schedule of activities and security and safety plans in the PDRA meeting.
As an added safety measures, the CRDRRMC also requested a COVID – 19 situationer and related updates from the Department of Health – Cordillera Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit.
CRDRRMC Chairperson and OCD – CAR Director Albert Mogol presiding the PDRA for the Panagbenga 2023 to look into the security and safety plans for Baguio’s High Density crowd drawing festival.
The CRDRRMC PDRA meeting was attended by the council member agencies especially from the Disaster Preparedness and Disaster Response Clusters. The municipal DRRMCs of the nearby Benguet towns of La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay were also invited to attend.
Mogol assured that the CRDRRMC with its member agencies are ready to support Baguio City and the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. and encourage all stakeholders to expand the horizon of their security and safety preparations and to also craft contingency plans for worst case scenarios. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)
Performers during the launching of Panagbenga 2023 at the Baguio City Flag Raising Ceremony last December 12, 2022. (CCD/PIA CAR)
