Report on conduct of enchanting Baguio Christmas sought

City officials recently requested the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) and the tourism and Special Events Division – City Administrator’s Office (TSE-CADMO) to submit a complete or consolidated report on the conduct of the An Enchanting Baguio Christmas at the Rose Garden, Burnham Park.

Under Resolution No. 010, series of 2024, local legislators stated that the Committee on Laws, Human Rights and Justice, in its 2nd indorsement dated January 4, 2024, recommended that the CEPMO and TSE-CADMO be requested to submit a complete or consolidated report on the conduct of the An Enchanting Baguio Christmas at the Rose Garden, Burnham Park to serve as a basis of whatever future actions that will be undertaken by the body.

Among the items that should be incorporated in the aforesaid report being requested from the concerned offices include the project proposal on the said activity and its approval of any; basis or justification of the conduct of the said activity taking into consideration the observation that city council authorization may appear to be wanting, especially for manifested payments of fees and other collections in the use of the area; accounting of collections, financial report and recommendations.

Earlier, the council considered the matters, issues and suggestions raised by the members and invited resource persons during its regular session on December 4, 2023 on the conduct of the An Enchanting Baguio Christmas activities at the Rose Garden and the expenses incurred during the setting up of chalets and others at the said venue.

During the said session, it was uncovered that the local legislative body did not actually authorize the conduct of the said activity despite the requirement for the organizers to secure the authorization of the council on the said endeavor.

The 40-day activity at the Rose Garden served as one of the events that were conducted in the city’s major tourist destination. – Dexter A. See