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Teachers want students’ safety during Panagbenga

BAGUIO CITY (Feb. 10) — The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) took no stand on the Panagbenga celebration despite Department of Education’s (DepEd) support with Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, Inc. (BFFFI) but said the flower festival should consider students’ welfare.

“Ang naiipit dito ay ang mga estudyante at teachers,” Students and teachers are the ones on the losing end here) says Connie Sulang, ACT-Metro Baguio coordinator.

Sulang added that the DepEd had not consulted them with the decision to support BFFFI (as against Mayor Braulio Yaranon’s plan of celebrating Baguio Flower Festival).

“Since nagdecide na ang DepEd, wala nang magagawa pa ang mga teachers kundi sumunod,”says Sulang.

However, ACT voiced out some appeals to BFFFI and DepEd concerning Panagbenga celebration. Sulang said that organizers should prioritize safety and welfare of students who will join the activity and they should be responsible whatever happens.

Sulang also disapproves Congressman Domogan’s decision not to release new funds for public health this year. She said that more funds should be allocated for health services and compensations for participating students and schools. She recalled that two years ago, a lot of students, especially from elementary schools, got sick because of heavy rain during the street dancing and drum-and-lyre parade.

Participation of students should not be an obligatory task just to sacrifice their academic performance, says Sulang. Lastly, Sulang appealed to organizers and schools to celebrate Baguio Flower fest showcasing the real culture of Cordillera people.

“Panagbenga should cater to Cordillerans not just for tourists’ attraction through commercialized culture,” she stated.

Sulang predicted that the outcome of Baguio Flower Festival is unsatisfactory and not so successful. “Since sa umpisa pa lang magulo na, hindi na ganun ka-successful ang kalalabasan ng Panagbenga ngayon,” Sulang concluded. # Maria Elena F. Dionisio/ UP Intern for NORDIS

(Editor’s Note: Mayor Yaranon and Congressman Domogan agreed to hold both their street dancing and float parade on February 25 and 26, respectively to prevent problems in crowd management. The BPFFA scheduled their street dancing and float parade on Feb. 25. The BFFFI will hold their activities on the 26th. Ed.)

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