Baguio: Organizers of the 30th edition of the Baguio Flower Festival announced that the event's two grand parades-street dancing and flower float-brought over 140,000 spectators to the city, ending the festival without any untoward incidents. "We are happy that there were a lot who came to watch the events," stated Anthony de Leon, chair of the Executive Committee of the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, in an interview.
According to Philippines News Agency, the two highlight parades are major attractions of the festival, drawing tourists from various regions and officials from sister cities to Baguio for the celebration. The Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) estimated that the crowd on Sunday alone reached 143,000, with spectators lining both sides of the 2-kilometer parade route from Upper Session Road to the Melvin Jones football field, where a field demonstration took place.
BCPO director Col. Ruel Tagel reported that about 1,400 police personnel were deployed along the parade route for visibility, patrol, traffic management, crowd control, security monitoring, and emergency response. These efforts were supported by specialized units, standby Civil Disturbance Management teams, Reactionary Standby Support Force personnel, and drone operators.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong expressed satisfaction with the peaceful and successful execution of the grand highlights of the month-long celebration. He noted that the influx of tourists has positively impacted local businesses, including vegetable sellers, souvenir shops, and vendors. "Our volunteers, barangays, and even the performers are locals who continue to extend their support, and we are glad that the very core for the creation of the festival is still alive-that is community participation," he said.
The mayor also highlighted the financial benefits to the city, with special permits paid to the city government by sellers at the Session in Bloom and the market encounter, as well as taxes from accommodation establishments and dining facilities, contributing to the city's revenue. Panagbenga, launched in 1995, was initially aimed at reestablishing Baguio as a prime tourist destination following the July 1990 Luzon earthquake.
