Capitol: Halad spending below P20 million

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Provincial Government is keeping the budget for Halad sa Pagtuo 2026 lean, with the total allocation expected to remain below 20 percent of the more than P200 million previously spent for Pasigarbo sa Sugbo.

Cebu Provincial Government Chief of Staff Charlton James Canoy said the province deliberately scaled down spending for this year’s celebration while still preparing to accommodate thousands of spectators.

“Gi tone down jud karon ang budget,” said Canoy in an interview.

Canoy said the overall expenses for Halad sa Pagtuo are estimated at around P18 million to P19 million, significantly lower than the amount previously spent for Pasigarbo sa Sugbo.

“Dili makaabot sa twenty percent sa P200 million,” he said.

The province is also spending for the appearance of singer Martin Nievera, although Canoy said his talent fee was kept minimal through a personal connection.

“Naay common friend si Gov nga kaila ni Martin. As in minimal jud kaayo (ang talent fee). Di mo katuo nga ingon ana ra ang gibayran,” said Canoy.

The provincial government, however, will shoulder Nievera’s airfare and accommodation, he added.

Canoy said a substantial portion of the Halad sa Pagtuo budget will go to subsidies for participating local government units (LGUs) and the carozzas that will be part of the celebration.

The original plan was to provide P1 million in subsidy to each participating LGU, with 15 localities initially expected to take part. However, only seven LGUs ultimately joined the festival presentations.

Tourism officers raised concerns that the initial subsidy would be insufficient to cover expenses such as food and other preparations, prompting the provincial government to increase the allocation.

“So among gi consult ni Gov ang tag P2 million and that's final na gi process na ang mga subsidy for the festivals,” Canoy said.

The seven participating localities are Carmen, Borbon, Dumanjug, Argao, Toledo, Naga City and Carcar City, which will showcase their respective festivals during the event.

They are Sinulog sa Carmen, Tuba Festival of Borbon, Bisnok Festival of Dumanjug, La Torta Festival of Argao, Hinulawan Festival of Toledo, Dagitab Festival of City of Naga and Kabkaban Festival of Carcar City.

Canoy said the absence of a competition and corresponding prizes also helped the provincial government reduce expenses.

“So since dili man pud siya contest, way premyo sa mas naka save ta,” he said.

For the carozzas, however, the provincial government increased its subsidy to P100,000 each, compared with P30,000 provided last year.

Canoy also noted that Lapu-Lapu City will join the celebration for the first time, although the seven festival presentations will remain the centerpiece of this year’s program.

Another expense is the rental of the Cebu City Sports Center, which Canoy estimated at between P200,000 and P300,000.

He said the Cebu Provincial Tourism Office has asked Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival a discount on the rental fee. Some LGUs have already received their subsidies, while others are still completing liquidation requirements with the Provincial Accounting Office before receiving their allocations, Canoy said.

Aside from subsidies and other event-related expenses, the provincial government is also preparing food packs for spectators, following Governor Pamela Baricuatro’s directive to provide food to those attending the celebration.

Canoy said the province is preparing around 10,000 food packs containing hanging rice, ngohiong, siomai and water, which will be distributed until supplies last.

The governor has also directed organizers to keep the program short, with Canoy saying Baricuatro wants the celebration to end by around 7 to 7:30 p.m.

Halad sa Pagtuo is being positioned by the provincial government as a celebration centered on faith and the gathering of Cebu’s town fiestas, rather than a return of the former Pasigarbo sa Sugbo competition.

The Cebu Provincial Tourism Office has described the event as an enhanced version of last year’s Pasundayag sa Pagtuo, which featured a solemn procession that ended at Plaza Independencia, followed by a Mass and the blessing of the carozzas.

This year’s celebration was renamed Halad sa Pagtuo as part of Baricuatro’s push for a gathering focused on offering and bringing together Cebu’s town fiestas in one celebration.

The procession will be followed by festival presentations, with organizers expecting around 10,000 spectators.

Admission will be free, although access to the Cebu City Sports Center will be controlled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Canoy said the Halad sa Pagtuo allocation will be charged under the province’s Founding Anniversary budget, while the subsidies for participating LGUs will be handled separately under the Office of the Governor.

Despite having fewer sponsors, Canoy said the provincial government was able to further reduce costs through discounts extended by several suppliers. — /FPL (FREEMAN)