Session Road closed from 1am of Oct. 7 to 11:30pm of Oct. 8, 2023, for mid-autumn fest

Mayor Benjamin Magalong issued executive order no. 138, series of 2023, authorizing the temporary closure of Session Road from vehicular traffic from 1 AM of October 7 to 11:30 PM of October 8, 2023 in line with the 2023 Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration.

Also known as the Mooncake Festival or Lantern Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional East Asian festival held on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, which usually falls in September or early October.

“The Festival is a traditional and culturally significant celebration observed by Chinese communities around the world, including a sizable population of Filipino-Chinese in the City of Baguio,” the order stated.

It disclosed that the Festival has grown in popularity in the Summer Capital over the years with a variety of cultural events, community gatherings and festivities organized by local Filipino-Chinese associations and residents.

“Session Road, as a prominent and central location within the City of Baguio, provides a suitable and accessible venue for hosting the Mid-Autumn Festival cultural events, parades and performances,” the order stated.

It stated that the celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival is to be regarded as a fiesta celebration as mentioned in a pertinent provision of the Local Government Code of 1991.

The order directs the Baguio City Police Office to come up and implement a security and traffic management plan to reduce the road closure impact to the public and asks the City Engineering Office to provide the manpower, equipment and devices for the closure of roads and rerouting of traffic. – Gaby B. Keith