A PROPOSED ordinance passed on first reading would allow trade fairs in the city’s parks and roads, which are currently off-limits for such activities.
The amendatory ordinance would affect Section 2 of Ordinance No. 12, Series of 2012 (Furthermore Amending the Trade Fair Ordinance of 1994).
Under the Trade Fair Ordinance currently in place, trade fairs are only allowed in “suitable” private places, but the amendment would remove the provision that states “ “…in suitable private places only and to totally disallow the conduct of trade fairs and other similar activities in all city-owned or city-managed public parks, including government owned and controlled properties and facilities…”
Instead, the amendment would replace said portion of Section 2 to read “in suitable private places and city-owned or city-managed public parks, including government owned and controlled properties, roads, and facilities.”
The ordinance would also loosen requirements to hold a trade fair, removing the requirement for registration with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), submission of a BIR clearance as a requirement, and the need to provide the BIR a copy of the terminal report detailing the activities undertaken, issues or problems encountered, and sales performance per exhibitor or participant.
However, initial unofficial polls conducted by the Baguio government on pertinent social media have turned up opposition to the measure, with nearly 800 votes against the measure to date.
