Cebu City government clarifies: No budget for Pasigarbo

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government has clarified that the city will only serve as host of the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo this coming August 25-26, 2024 and no budgetary disbursements will be made aside from the services provided.

City acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, in a press conference yesterday, confirmed that the city’s role is to ensure that the venue– the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC)– of the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo, organized by the Provincial Government is ready. However, the Cebu City Government did not set aside a budget for the event, Garcia stressed.

“Walay ipagawas (na money) in the sense that it is already a service,” said Garcia, as he assured that the CCSC will be ready for the main event this Sunday, and the awarding ceremony the next day.

In fact, Garcia said he will be inspecting the CCSC anew this week to make sure that everything is in place. He, however, said that they are confident to deliver their part for the festivity considering that Cebu City just hosted the country’s biggest sporting event–the Palarong Pambansa 2024, at the CCSC.

“In fact sa Palaro, one school (houses) 1,000 athletes. Kini (Pasigarbo) maximum of 250 ra per school, so it’s more manageable for us since this is only three days so of course preparations are already underway,” said Garcia.

Further, Garcia explained the city will be rendering its services through workforce and maintenance of the billeting quarters for the contingents. This means that the city will take care of the water sources, electricity, among others.

He added the city will also be deploying traffic enforcers and security personnel, including an augmentation of the government’s busses.

Food stalls will also be available in Fuente Osmeña Circle and Plaza Independencia.

“So maka earn sad ta og income anang nga food stalls kay of course they will have to pay their taxes,” said Garcia.

Cebu City will also be having a guest contingent for the Pasigarbo, which is the Banauan Cultural Festival from Barangay Guadalupe.

Festival Queen

Meanwhile, the competition for this year's Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival Queen has kicked-off with the pre-judging at the Capitol Social Hall last August 18.

The 47 candidates also had their photoshoot on the same day, where they donned their festival costumes.

The Capitol required the festival queens and the designers to limit the weight of their costume to 12 kilograms to ensure the comfort and safety of the candidates.

Some of the designers have replaced the materials used for the costumes from metals to indigenous resources, like bamboo, without sacrificing the design, which is based on the festival the candidate is representing.

Aside from the Pasigarbo Festival Queen 2024 crown, other awards are Best in Festival Queen Costume to be awarded to the designer, and Miss Photogenic.

According to board member Red Duterte who chairs the Committee of Tourism of the Provincial Board, the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival Queen 2024 is the biggest festival queen competition in the country. —/ATO (FREEMAN)