BAGUIO City—The Panagbenga festival here was somehow marred by foot injuries suffered by street dancers who performed at the Melvin Jones football field which was covered with artificial turf for the occasion.
Meanwhile, public transport in the city was enhanced with the deployment of 20 new taxicabs operated by a local corporation.
The Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. (BFFFI) issued a public apology for the inconvenience suffered by the performers on account of the synthetic surface of the football field which allegedly seared their feet due to excessive heat.
“We acknowledge the serious concerns raised regarding the artificial turf used at Melvin Jones during the grand street dance parade. To the students, teachers, trainers and contingents who experienced pain, injury and distress, I apologize for the error in judgement and take full responsibility. As everyone knows, the previous years where the participants for the grand street dance parade was at the Melvin Jones football field under dust, rocks and hot sand,” Panagbenga executive committee chairman Anthony de Leon said.
He pointed out that the intention was to improve the performance area but the result caused harm to the performers.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong acknowledged the honest intentions for installing the artificial turf, adding that the allegations were “unfair” and “malicious.”
Meanwhile, HSTC, the third transport cooperative in Baguio, deployed 20 new hybrid cabs, completing the 35 units required by the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board.
The firm said the new units were built for high terrain travels and supports the town’s re-fleeting program to aggressively promote greener mobility through the adoption of electric vehicles.
