Baguio mulls ban on children from street parades

BAGUIO CITY—Social workers, parents and teachers discussed a proposed ordinance that would restrict children below 7 years old from participating in parades here unless their participation is necessary and when these do not require them to assemble earlier than 6:30 a.m.

The opening parade of the 19th Panagbenga (Baguio Flower Festival) will be held on Feb. 1. The event will be participated in by students from the city’s elementary and high schools.

The proposed ordinance, which would guide parades joined by children or events where they are used as agents of solicitation activities such as Christmas caroling or school pageants, was discussed in a public hearing led by the measure’s proponent, Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda, on Thursday.

Tabanda said the measure heeds the city government policy that children must be protected and shielded from harm. It also reviews complaints that parades expose children to the elements and to danger, especially when only a handful of adults are tasked to supervise them.

She said the measure was not meant to discourage children from taking part in parades, given that they “add color and life” to such events.

But the proposed ordinance would require organizers to justify the attendance of preschool children before the city government allows them to join a parade.

It would also require organizers to make sure that an adult be tasked to supervise two children during parades, which would be augmented by security and medical personnel.

Tabanda said the Panagbenga street dancing parades and the annual Christmas parades are covered by the proposed ordinance.

Children have been top draws for Panagbenga since the start of the festival in 1995. Although social workers and members of various parent-teachers associations endorsed the measure, they urged Tabanda to include penalties for parents who allow their children to join demonstrations or use their children to block government authorities undertaking tasks like squatter demolition.

Betty Fangasan, city social worker, said there were also concerns about preschool and kindergarten children who are used to solicit donations or gifts during Christmas.

“They don’t secure permits from us and that’s why we are worried. Even [Christmas] caroling needs to be regulated so we can ensure the protection of children,” she said. Vincent Cabreza, Inquirer Northern Luzon