By Rose Frejane Cruz   BAGUIO CITY — One hundred solo parents received gift packs during the celebration of the 24th Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day held at the Filipino-Chinese Friendship Park, Botanical Garden, Baguio City, on June 14. The celebration was attended by Consul and Head of Post Ren Faquiang, Consulate of the People’s Republic of China in Laoag City, together with Baguio Filipino-Chinese Organizations led by Peter Ng and city officials. The selected solo parents are from the City Social Welfare and Development Office led by Liza Bulayungan. “This friendship will not end despite the issues between the two countries, because we who live here in the Philippines, were born and do business here have Filipino blood to love our place and help our countrymen,” Ng said. According to Consul Faquiang, “I am very pleased with the relationship between Chinese and Filipinos in Baguio City, because I always see the respect for each other. The upcoming celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Philippines-China friendship proves that the length of the relationship is also the length of unity, cooperation towards the economy of the two countries.” The simple celebration was conducted by releasing doves and balloons as a symbol of friendship between the two countries and the highlight was the distribution of 100 grocery packs to single-parent beneficiaries. In a message by Mayor Benjamin Magalong delivered by his Executive Assistant Doy Tabilog, he highly praised the Fil-Chi community in the city for their contributions from community outreach programs, such as the construction of additional school buildings in schools and the delivery of aid during disasters. “In addition, they are also our partners in tourism, such as the Chinoy mural they created that serves as an attraction for our visitors and this Fil-Chinese Friendship Park, which they themselves are developing and beautifying, which is one of the places visited by tourists. Our relationship with each other does not end here, but will continue for the development of our city. Thank you very much,” Magalong added in his message.        

BAGUIO CITY — Hiniling ni Mayor Benjamin Magalong ang pagrepaso at pag-amyenda sa speed limit ordinance ng lungsod upang maisaayos ang mga paghihigpit sa bilis at gamitin kung ano ang nararapat sa isang partikular na lugar. “We have to be discerning regarding our speed limits. We need to amend our ordinance kasi may speed limits na hindi advisable,” paliwanag ni Magalong sa mga kinatawan ng  city’s traffic and transportation team. Sinabi ni Magalong na tinanggihan ng aktwal na karanasan ang pagiging angkop ng mga speed limit na ibinigay sa ilalim ng Ordinance No. 18, series of 2019 o ang Speed ​​Limit Ordinance ng Baguio City. “We tried running at 30 kph along South Drive and it is not advisable. It should be around 40 kph. Same is true with Loakan Road, Kennon Road and Marcos Highway. We need to look at other roads where 20-30 kph limit is not appropriate,” dagdag pa ni Magalong. Ang Traffic and Transportation Management Division ng City Engineering Office, Traffic Enforcement Unit ng Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) at ang City Legal Office ay gagawa ng draft ng panukalang amendment para isumite sa city council. Ang mahigpit na pagpataw ng speed limit ordinance ay isa sa mga ginawang hakbang para mapigilan ang pagdami ng vehicular traffic incidents sa lungsod. Ang karamihang aksidente sa kalsada ay pangunahing naiugnay sa human error. Gaya ng nakasaad sa Ordinansa Blg.18-2019, ang maximum na bilis na 20 kph ay mahigpit na ipinapataw sa loob ng Central Business District at iba pang mga pangunahing kalsada. Ang maximum na bilis na 30 kph ay nalalapat sa lahat ng panloob na kalsada. Upang matiyak ang bisa ng ordinansang ito, nagplano ang lungsod na bumili ng mga speed monitoring device, kabilang ang mga speed gun at radar sensor, upang mapahusay ang regulasyon at pagtuklas ng mga bilis ng sasakyan sa buong lungsod. Ayon kay BCPO City Director PCol Ruel Tagel na nakabili na ng breath analyzer at ginagamit na ngayon sa field testing. Bibili ng mga karagdagang breath analyzer sa mga darating na araw. Ang pagbili ng mga speed gun ay isinasagawa din na may mga pagsasaalang-alang para sa kalidad at pagiging epektibo sa gastos. Naglagay din ang CEO ng mga signage sa mga kalsada kabilang ang Bokawkan, Magsaysay, Loakan at Legarda para palakasin ang pagpapatupad ng ordinansa sa pakikipagtulungan ng Deparment of Public Works and Highways. Bilang karagdagan, ang mga signage na “Slow Down” ay inilagay malapit sa mga paaralan bilang suporta sa parehong ordinansa.        

The 2nd Largest Flag in the World measuring 100 meters by 200 meters, weighing 3.8 tons and was made for almost six months by the Halelujah Prophetic Global Foundation was unfurling by more or less 500 people at Athletic Bowl, during the celebration of 110th Independence Day in Baguio City on June 12, 2008.The largest Philippine flag is next to Israel.