Baguio City is preparing for the biggest events of this year’s Panagbenga Festival, with organizers finalizing arrangements for the Grand Streetdance and Grand Floral Float parades expected to draw large crowds this weekend.

The Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. (BFFFI) said 22 teams will compete in the Grand Streetdance and Cultural Parade in Baguio City.

Participants, including Mabini Elementary School, have intensified rehearsals in recent months. The school was first runner-up in last year’s drum and lyre competition.

“Ready na ‘yung bata kasi June pa sila nag-start sa skill nila then enhance na lang noong December kaya ngayong February parang ready na po sila,” Ronnie Manzano, drum and lyre coordinator, said.

In the festival dance category, teams from the Cordillera region, Ilocos, Cagayan and Central Luzon will compete. Organizers have installed artificial turf at the Melvin Jones Football Ground to improve conditions for performers and float entries on Feb. 28 and March 1.

“Para naman kumportable sila. Because in the past ay maalikabok at minsan pag nababasa ay nagiging maputik so para naman maganda ang performance,” Andrew Piñero, committee chairman of BFFFI, said.

For the Grand Floral Float Parade, organizers expect up to 30 entries across small, medium and large categories. BFFFI requires that at least 90% of each float be made of natural flowers.

Piñero also warned against overcharging by some float makers and florists.

“Well the source really of the overcharging is the middlemen. They usually charge ’yung mga companies na walang office dito sa Baguio who wish to put up a float. Syempre ay mga float makers na tumaas ang rate due to demand and supply pero we want the increase to be reasonable,” he said

Security preparations are also in place. The Baguio City Police Office will deploy 2,357 personnel, including augmentation forces, to secure the central business district, manage traffic and enforce crowd control measures.

“It will cover the parade route itself, may naka-deploy doon na crowd control, may mga foot patrol din at di natin tinatanggal yung men in plain clothes,” Police Colonel Ruel Tagel, city police director, said.

Authorities said they are targeting zero crime incidents throughout the celebration as the city hosts one of the country’s most prominent flower festivals.