CEBU, Philippines - Vice Mayor Michael Rama is considering the possibility of raising to the Supreme Court the controversial Commission on Audit circular that is keeping the city government from giving financial assistance to the Sinulog Foundation, Inc.
Rama, himself the chairman of the SFI, said he will exercise “other options” if COA denies the city’s request for a second exemption from COA Circular 2007-001.
He refused to elaborate on the “other options” except the possibility of raising the matter to the Supreme Court.
The COA en banc met yesterday to deliberate on the city’s request for a second exemption from the circular.
The circular prohibits any local government unit from giving aid to non-government organizations or private organizations whose incorporator, director, organizer or officer is related to any local official involved in the approval or release of government funds.
As vice mayor, Rama presides the City Council that approved the resolution allocating P12.5 to SFI for the prizes of the festival, including the expenses of the grand finale for Sinulog 2010 on January 17.
SFI has been receiving millions of pesos from the city every year as financial assistance since the Sinulog was organized in 1980.
Rama said the circular is “going backward” because it has the potential to force an LGU to engage into a “backdoor arrangement” just to “skip” the policy.
Despite the obstacle on funding, Rama reiterated the Sinulog festivities will proceed.
“Sinulog can never be postponed just because of the policy, therefore, Sinulog 2010 will proceed. In other words, not a deterrent to the staging of the Sinulog because that has been what we were working and planning for,” he said.
SFI Executive Director Ricky Ballesteros said earlier another possible option to address the problem of disbursement is for the city to make a cash advance, which would allow it to be a co-sponsor of the event and give the prizes directly to the winners.
“Mo-cash advance ra man ang city. Naa sila’y gi-appoint nga person to cash advance then sila na ang mo-disburse, muhatag directly sa prizes ngadto sa winners,” Ballesteros said.
Ballesteros said SFI is now on its final stages of preparations for the “grandest Sinulog ever.” Sinulog is celebrating its 30th year this year.
The Sinulog 2010 activities will be formally launched today with a Holy Mass at the Basilica del Santo Niño at 2 pm.
A parade will follow the mass from the church to the Fuente Osmeña Circle and down to Cebu City Sports Center where the opening and launching program will be held.
The parade will be participated by at least 16 dance contingents from different schools in the city together with Miss Cebu 2010 candidates on board tartanillas. — Elly T. Bolonos/JMO (FREEMAN NEWS)