Baguio mulls ban on trade fairs on city streets, land

BAGUIO CITY—The city council is studying a measure that would ban all trade fairs in public areas in Baguio, following complaints and controversies these triggered recently.

The council has been criticized for allowing trade fairs to operate in major city parks during summer, violating Ordinance 10-2008 that prohibits their operations in parks and public places “beyond the commerce of man.”

One of these trade fairs, which was organized as a benefit project, has become the subject of controversy when its beneficiary organization complained about low profits.

The Livelihood Trade Fair, staged on March 12 to raise funds for the local Association of Barangay Councils (ABC), was facilitated by city council Resolution 60-2011, which allowed it to operate in Burnham Park.

But the council began investigating this trade fair in May when barangay captains complained that all 128 villages in the city would share only P100,000 in proceeds. The rest of the profits, estimated by city employees to have reached P2 million, would supposedly go to the trade fair’s private manager and for expenses.

Another trade fair at the Igorot Park, which was authorized in April by the city government, was supposed to benefit the marching band of the Baguio City National High School, which needed to reimburse its expenses for competing in a national event early this year.

But the band’s mentors urged the council to investigate because it received less than what they were promised.

Councilor Richard Cariño said the proposed amendments to Ordinance 10-2008 would allow trade fairs to be held only in private property, banning them from public and government areas. Another proposed change provides trade fairs only a 15-day duration.

Disguised projects

Businessmen here have opposed the staging of government-operated trade fairs, saying these drew customers away from tax-paying enterprises.

Aurora Castel of the Maharlika Livelihood Center Tenants Association said the council must provide a legal definition of trade fairs to prevent groups from mounting them disguised as benefit projects.

“Majority of us are legitimate taxpayers but without the option to avail of discounts or rebates [while trade fairs authorized by the government operate nearby]. We expect a little protection from the city,” Castel said at a public hearing called by Cariño, and Councilors Perlita Chan-Rondez and Betty Lourdes Tabanda. Vincent Cabreza, Inquirer Northern Luzon