BAGUIIO CITY - Mayor Benjamin Magalong admitted that there were lapses in crowd control during the Christmas tree lighting program and opening of the night market here last December 1.
Magalong assured that the city was already working on additional control systems to ensure stricter observance of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) health and safety measures during events.
The city government was criticized for breach of health protocols during the opening of “Christmas in Baguio” celebration, and the resumption of night market activities last December 1.
Magalong said he was assuming full responsibility for the incident.
He has suspended the operation of the night market the following day to allow refining of the strategies.
Magalong said the city, like any other local government unit (LGU), was learning to cope with the new normal way, and was continuing to do a balancing act between reopening the economy, and protecting the people from the virus.
“Right now, we will make sure that there are more systems in place to avoid a repeat of the incident,” Magalong said.
He promised to do better in the next events that the city will stage, saying the December 1 incident was a “learning experience for us to do better and improve management next time.”
“This is part of the healing process wherein people are looking of normalcy. We can only do better next time.” he said.
Market superintendent Fernando Ragma Jr. admitted that they failed to predict the size of the crowd that will venture into the night market.
“We failed to forecast the spillover of the Christmas in Baguio attendees and we failed to anticipate the excitement of the locals to go out of their homes from months of being told to stay home,” he said.