Miss Universe 2017 In Baguio City: Fund-Raising Stopped After Local Traders Complain

Fund-raising for the local hosting of the Miss Universe 2017 in Baguio City has hit a major snag after a Baguio City court issued a temporary restraining order to stop the holding of a month-long bazaar in Burnham Park. The bazaar was organized by the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB) upon the approval of the city government in order to raise the required PhP 40 million for the Miss Universe hosting.

Local Traders File Petition

According to a Philippine Daily Inquirer report, the bazaar was scheduled to start on December 1 and run until the end of the month. It featured 80 stalls that would sell food, souvenirs and apparel.

Local traders, represented by Ellen Lao filed a petition with the Regional Trial Court, and a seven-day TRO was issued on November 29 by Judge Maria Ligaya Itlong-Rivera, ordering the bazaar to stop. The bazaar, according to the petition, threatened the livelihood of Baguio traders.

HRAB Needs To Raise PhP 40 Million

HRAB on the other hand claimed that they needed the event to push through so that they can raise the needed funds for the Baguio tour. In earlier Pilipinas Popcorn reports, it has been confirmed that Baguio City is going to be part of the Miss Universe 2017 itinerary. No less than Miss Universe 2016 Pia Wurtzbach will be accompanying 20 contestants for the visit scheduled on January 18.

According to HRAB’s legal counsel, the association needs to raise funds to pay for the PhP 25 million fee to the Miss Universe Organization and another PhP 15 million for local accommodation, transportation, security and government taxes and fees for the hosting. If they are unable to do so, this may mean losing the chance to host the international event.

During the hearing on the petition, however, Lao’s lawyer cited that HRAB should not have accepted the hosting if they did not have enough to support. Atty. Marissa Madrid-Dacayanan said that since HRAB actively pursued to organize the hosting, it is HRAB’s “burden” to raise the funds and “not the city, and definitely not the citizens of Baguio.”

Citizens’ Opposition

According to the report, some citizens have also voiced out their opposition against the bazaar. Given the amount of money that will be raised, it should instead go to more relevant projects that address garbage and waste management issues, for example.

Aside from the threat to local businesses, the petition also cited an existing city ordinance that strictly does not allow trade fairs and bazaars to be held in city parks’ premises.

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FEATURED PHOTO SOURCE: Verified Miss Universe Facebook page

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