Basakanon gets P1.7M subsidy to join Aliwan

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City’s pride, Tribu Lumad Basakanon, is officially joining the Aliwan Festival in Pasay City next month after the members of the Cebu City Council approved its P1.7 million subsidy.

The assistance to Barangay Basak-San Nicolas’ famous contingent will be charged against the city’s sponsored activities, which has a total balance of P10.3 million.

The amount, however, was lower than the P3 million requested by Barangay Captain George Rama to defray his contingent’s expen-ses to join the annual festival. Councilor Noel Wen-ceslao, vice chairman of the committee on budget and finance, said that the city government cannot give the full amount requested by Rama because of the present financial problem of the city.

The P1.7 million financial assistance is broken down into P594,000 fare for at least 300 participants; P765,000 for food; and P298,000 for other expenses.

Councilor Hanz Abella earlier endorsed the request which was referred to the committee  on budget and finance last March 12.

Councilor Gerardo Carillo asked if charging the amount against the city’s sponsored activities is appropriate.

“We don’t want them (Lumad Basakanon) to suffer if this would be disallowed by COA,” Carillo said.

 Wenceslao said char-ging the amount is valid but subject to the rules of the Commission on Audit (COA). “This is valid. We already done this before,” Wenceslao clarified.

Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr. suggested to draft guidelines on the use of the city’s sponsored activities account.

 â€œWe should have guidelines in using this account. This account has been used in different activities in the barangays and not outside the barangay and city of Cebu,” he said.

Rama earlier requested the city government to help defray their expenses in going to the national festival competition.

A shipping company had pledged a 40-percent discount of the contingent’s round trip fare and free shipping cost for its props.

The Sinulog Foundation Incorporated thru its executive director Ricky Ballesteros endorsed Lumad Basakanon to represent Cebu City in the Aliwan Festival on April 24 to 26 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex in Pasay City.

Lumad Basakanon’s choreographer  Norman Navarro said their participation in the Aliwan Festival would also lift and boost the economy and tourism of Cebu.

“Economy and tourism wise, this festival upon the power of gatherings amongst our diverse Filipino traditions and promoting indigenous cultures, we are also internationally spreading out our worship to our Miraculous Senior Sto. Niño de Cebu,” Navarro said.

Lumad Basakanon won this year’s Sinulog Festival in the Free Interpretation category. The group also bagged the grand champion in 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2008 for the same category.

Aliwan Festival showcases winners from different festivals in the country. — (FREEMAN)