For The Sinulog 2009 Celebration COA allows city to give P8M aid

CEBU - It’s a Christmas wish come true for the City of Cebu.

The Commission on Audit has given Cebu City a one-time exemption to grant P8 million as aid for the Sinulog Foundation Inc. to be used in next year’s celebration.

COA chairman Reynaldo Villar, in a letter sent to Acting Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama received December 24, gave importance to the holding of the annual Sinulog festivities come January 2009.

“In view of the proximity of the celebration, this Commission hereby allows a one time exemption only of the Sinulog Foundation from the stricture of Paragraph 4.4.8 COA Circular. The City Government of Cebu may grant financial assistance to the foundation subject to pertinent COA accounting rules and regulations,” Villar said.

The said COA Circular disallowed local government units from giving aid and grants to foundations, non government organizations, people’s organizations, whose leaders include elected officials or their immediate relatives.

As a rule, Villar emphasized that COA does not grant exemption to any people’s organization and non government organization.

However Villar said they are also cognizant of certain projects and activities of exceptional significance being implemented by certain NGOs under a tight time constraint.

Villar said that they are still studying the request for reconsideration of the city on the decision of the COA regional office to deny the city’s request for exemption of the COA Circular 2007-001.

“The review will consider striking a balance between the necessity of assisting POs/NGOs to achieve certain social, political, economic and educational objectives and the equally important need for transparency of government transactions and accountability of public funds,” Villar said.

With this development, Rama said, that the city will have to cancel the purchases it made for the Sinulog Foundation, which was supposedly meant to abide by the COA guidelines.

He said they will now give the money outright to SFI which will be spent solely for the prizes.

Rama sits as the over all chairman of SFI and is optimistic that COA will reconsider.

Apart from the Sinulog Foundation, the COA memorandum also affects the Cebu Investment Promotions Center, Cebu City Task Force on Street Children, Cebu Pistol and Rifle Association and the Cebu City Dancesport Team, since a few city officials are either officers or relatives of officers.

“Giuna lang nila ang Sinulog but eventually they will come up with an everything encompassing, as to what will be exempted, they are just playing safe,” Rama said.

Graffiti-Free City

Meanwhile, Rama wants the City to be graffiti free before Sinulog 2009.

Rama in a recent interview said he is tasking Councilor Richard Osmeña to spearhead the committee, which will work overtime at the opening of the year to ensure that the City of Cebu is rid of graffiti.

The plan is currently being discussed by Osmeña and members from several multi-sectoral groups.

“It has to be participated by all since the city is owned by all, having to see graffiti in the City is not just an affront to City hall but to the residents of Cebu,” Rama said.

The new initiative will only require aerosol eraser paints to get rid of the unwanted writings or signs on the walls.

He emphasized that the city government will go on the offensive in fighting the problem on vandalism, the new team would discuss means of punishment to those caught in the act.—/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)