PB pledges funds for BSP Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Manifesting their interest to actively participate the scouting activities, the members of the Provincial Board pledged to donate at least P25,000 each to the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) Cebu Council.

Board Member Sun Shimura, the youngest member, opened up the idea during their regular session last week when they renewed the accreditation of BSP-Cebu Council as a non-government organization operating in the province of Cebu.

However, a supplemental budget is needed to appropriate funds for the said purpose.

Board Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy supported Shimura’s suggestion which was carried by the body.

Sitoy said that BSP’s thrust, which is “building up communities” through scouting is one of their supposed mandates as board members of their own districts.

“We are morally bound to help such institution with such noble objectives as the BSP-Cebu Council,” Sitoy said.

Board Member Jude Thaddeus Sybico also assured BSP Cebu Council that he is willing to assist them in choosing the venue for the next annual boy scouts jamboree if ever it will be held in the fifth district.

PB member Alex Binghay also suggested that they could consider Mt. Manunggal in Balamban as their official camping site.

Binghay said that the area, which has been declared as a national park, is a perfect place for camping because of its wide space.

BSP-Cebu Council chairman Hernado Streegan was informed by the body that the Province of Cebu has been giving assistance in the amount of P200,000 per year.

Streegan said that Governor Gwendolyn Garcia promised to help the council as much as she could and hopes that he could also get the same support from the board members.

Garcia sits as the honorary council chairperson of the BSP-Cebu Council while Vice Governor Agnes Magpale is a member of its executive board.

As of the end of 2011, the BSP-Cebu Council has P6.666 million in cash deposits, according to Streegan.

He added however, that this year, and for the coming years, they need to raise P20 million to build a training facility and hire more personnel to support their activities.

Streegan thanked the board members for their pledges. He said the council has no other source of funding except the donations from the government and the communities who are sympathetic to their cause. — (FREEMAN)