CEBU, Philippines - With lesser budget intended this time for the program, the first leg for this year of the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo was launched yesterday.
This after the notice received from the Commission on Audit, calling the attention of the Provincial Government on the alleged overspending by the previous administration on the program.
"During the exit conference with COA, giingnan ta dako ra kaayo ang nagasto, mahal ra kaayo ang food, etc.," said Vice Governor Agnes Magpale.
She added that the Capitol, during the time of then Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, had "many non-paying guests," one reason that the expenses were too high.
"So now we have to keep our expenses at a minimum," she stressed during the first day of the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo tour yesterday which was dubbed as the "Southern getaway."
For the three-day tour, the Provincial Capitol almost doubled the package cost at P7,000 to P14,000 for each participant, depending on room accommodation, as compared to the P3,000 to P4,000 cost per participant during Garcia's time.
However, Magpale explained that the increase in the cost paid by the participants does not mean that they want to earn from it, as it will remain a "non money-making" program but rather for the tourism promotion of the province.
For the first leg of the program this year, it had at least 100 guests- a mix of foreign nationals, balikbayans and locals.
Magpale said that for this trip, the maximum number of guests should not exceed 150 as the southern towns only have enough commercial rooms available.
For the first night, the guests stayed in beach resorts in Moalboal town. Today they will be billeted in hotels in the town of Santander.
Governor Hilario Davide III, for his part, said he hopes that the guests would enjoy the three-day trip.
Davide joined the convoy from the Capitol building to Carcar City, the first stop for yesterday's tour. But he had to return to Cebu City, saying he had appointments to attend to in his office.
He said he would join his wife, Jobel, one of the participants, later today.
Meanwhile, Davide said he does not mind using the "Mabuhi (ka Sugbuanon)" song, which has been associated with former governor Garcia, since he supports Cebuano compositions.
The song was only used once yesterday, in Carcar City, but not as a welcome song for the participants. Local government unit-hosts played their respective hymns while the guests were in their area.
Apart from Carcar City, yesterday's itinerary also included a visit to Barili's Mantayupan Falls, Badian's Kawasan Falls and the white sandy beaches of Moalboal town.
Today the convoy is expected to make a stop-over in Samboan, Sumilon Island in Oslob, Oslob's Cuartel and Santander.-(FREEMAN)