Go hits P1 million Rotary reimbursement

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor Harold Go has questioned the city government's reimbursement of P1 million in expenses for the Rotary District 3860 conference held last May at NUSTAR Resort and Casino, saying the allocation reflects misplaced priorities while urgent social needs remain unaddressed.

“Wa gyud ko ka uyon ani nga gasto. P1 million is P1 million. Kwarta ni sa Sugboanon, ug para nako, dapat unahon ang panginahanglan sa Sugboanon,” Go said in a public post.

During the council session, he reiterated that while he respects Rotary's community service, “the issue here is not Rotary, but the use of public funds.”

Go stressed the need to prioritize basic services, citing reports that Operation Second Chance, a facility for children in conflict with the law, had run out of food funds during their regular session.

“Ang operation sa Second Chance wala na gani kaon ang mga bata didto,” he told his colleagues.

Councilor Nyza Archival, who sponsored the resolution, defended the reimbursement, citing Rotary's long-standing partnership with Cebu through projects benefiting schools, libraries, health institutions and emergency response.

“Rotary has been a long-standing partner of Cebu… this DISCON was for the whole Rotary Club across Cebu and Mindanao,” Archival explained.

The debate also highlighted the lack of clear guidelines governing city subsidies for activities sponsored or supported by the local government.

Liga ng mga Barangay-Cebu City chapter president and ex-officio councilor Franklyn Ong supported Go's call for clear standards, suggesting an ordinance that would establish criteria for such allocations.

Councilor Philip Zafra, who was serving as temporary presiding officer at the time, admitted that “as of now, there is really no definitive guideline” and that such decisions rest with the executive department.

Other councilors joined the discussion. Councilor Harry Eran moved to require the Office of the Mayor and City Treasurer to submit a summary of the fund utilization, while Councilor Sisinio Andales insisted that Rotary should liquidate the P1 million.

Zafra clarified that reimbursements are processed through City Hall and are not directly released to organizations.

Go eventually withdrew his formal objection but insisted that his concerns be entered into the record.

He also filed a corollary motion encouraging all accredited nongovernment organizations to apply for assistance through the Mayor's Office, “so that fairness is observed and others know where to go.”

Go's objection to the Rotary reimbursement is consistent with his earlier scrutiny of city spending.

In a previous council session, he questioned the Office of the Mayor's budget requests for food during some occasions, arguing that the amounts were excessive and suggesting that more modest fast-food catering would be more reasonable.

The Rotary District 3860 conference, known as DISCON, brought together Rotarians from across the Visayas and Mindanao for leadership training, fellowship and recognition of outstanding clubs and projects.

The choice of NUSTAR as the conference venue also drew attention, given the resort's upscale facilities, including hotels, restaurants, retail establishments, entertainment venues and a casino.

For Go, the reimbursement underscored the need to ensure that public spending is directed toward urgent community needs.

“Public funds are not simply available money. They are the people’s money, and every peso must have a clear, necessary, and measurable public benefit,” Go emphasized. — /FPL (FREEMAN)