With the election season approaching, Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. (BFFFI) executives have announced a blanket ban on campaigning activities by politicians during the festivities.
“We will not allow campaigning. Nobody will take advantage of the festival and we have a policy on that,” said BFFFI Executive Committee Chair Anthony de Leon on Monday.
According to De Leon, politicians are allowed to participate in the parades but cannot carry political paraphernalia, banners, imagery, fliers or handouts, and their only participation is limited to being allowed to stand on the floats during the parade.
He said that if politicians attempt to hijack the parade for campaigning purposes, their float will be removed from the parade proper.
De Leon said they are expecting at least 36 small, medium, and large competing floats aside from the non-competing floats to join the parade.
The annual Panagbenga festival is a major crowd-drawing event, especially the grand parades which are set for February 22-23 this year.
The month-long celebration, which starts on February 1, attracts a significant number of tourists yearly, both foreign and domestic.
