Sinulog aid pushes through if second exemption granted

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City officials are expecting that the Commission on Audit will issue another exemption for the city to grant cash assistance to the Sinulog Foundation Incorporated to help fund Sinulog-related activities next year.

Vice Mayor Michael Rama said he had a talk with COA chairman Reynaldo Villar when he personally went to the latter’s office in Manila and explained to him that he is willing to resign as overall chairman of Sinulog if deemed necessary.

Rama said he will wait until the end of November and if the COA will continue to ignore his request, he is ready to step down from his position just to ensure that the city can provide cash assistance to the foundation.

The COA only granted a “one-time exemption” to the city government to give cash assistance to the Sinulog Foundation, Inc. last January.

COA Circular 2007-001 prohibits any local government unit from giving aid to any non-government organization whose incorporator, director, organizer or officer is related to any local official involved in the approval or release of government funds. ““The city is providing P8 million to the foundation every year to cover additional expenses because the sales of tickets and other donations from the public are not enough to pay for the expenses.

If Rama will resign from his post as overall SFI chairman, he believes that executive director Ricky Ballesteros can assume his post, although he will still be there to help. – Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)