City of Pines cancels major Panagbenga 2020 activities as precaution against coronavirus threat

If you’ve made plans to go up to Baguio for the Panagbenga Festival this February, you might want to reevaluate them. Mayor Benjamin Magalong of Baguio City just announced that all big public activities in Baguio will be cancelled due to the threat caused by the novel coronavirus.

These major events include the following: the opening festivities of the Panagbenga Festival on Saturday, February 1; Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Games on February 15; and Sunday openings of Session Road to pedestrians.

Magalong said small events like weddings, conferences, and others will still push through.

The mayor is still studying whether to cancel the Panagbenga street and float parades on February 29 and March 1.

“The tourism revenues are the least of my concerns. My main priorities are the health of my constituents,” Magalong said.

The mayor came to this decision after meeting this morning with health authorities and members of the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation.

Kennon Road will still be partially opened on the weekends on February.