BAGUIO CITY (PIA) -- The major events of the Panagbenga 2023 here over the weekend were generally peaceful.
Baguio City Police Office Director PCol. Francisco Bulwayan said that Baguio City remained peaceful and orderly during the conduct of the street dance and float parades on February 25 and 26 in Baguio City which was attended by thousands of tourists and residents.
A total of 1,800 police officers including force multipliers, student interns, and volunteers were deployed to secure the parade routes for the safety of participants and spectators.
BCPO Deputy Director for Operation Domingo Gambican said that the full cooperation of the public during the parade was a major key in attaining a very peaceful celebration.
“We maximized deployment of our personnel along the crowded areas to make sure the parade ended peacefully. And we are very thankful for the public’s full cooperation. Sa kanila po ang malaking factor kaya naging peaceful and ating parades,” Gamibican said during the Kapihan sa Baguio media forum on Wednesday (March 1).
Police Regional Office-Cordillera Regional Director PBGen. Mafelino Bazar extended his appreciation to the public for their cooperation with the heightened security measures laid down by the police force. He also lauded the personnel and volunteers who patiently performed their duties to secure the two major events of the Panagbenga Festival.
Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. Executive Committee Chairman Anthony De Leon lauded the efforts of the police, the volunteers and the other force multipliers for a peaceful and orderly conduct of the Panagbenga festivities.
“It was way more than what we expected, and we have to hand it over to our volunteers and of course, the management of the peace and order committee led by the BCPO Director because this was the first time after so many years of handling this festival that we have a much more orderly and controlled parade route. This is due to the discipline and orderliness of our peace and order committee,” De Leon said.
Meanwhile, the BCPO also managed well the traffic situation in the city after the parades such that it did not pose any problem for residents and tourists.
BCPO’s Traffic Enforcement Unit Head Police Major Zacarias Dausen said that the early issuance of traffic advisories traffic starting January contributed to the easement of the traffic as many did not bring their vehicles and many also followed the alternative routes that were provided. He added that the lesser crowd during this year’s two-day parade was easier to manage compared to the crowd in the previous years of the Panagbenga.
The BCPO reported that an estimated 14,000 people joined the street dance parade on February 26 while at least 55,000 people were present during the float parade. (JDP/RMC- PIA CAR)