Capitol pledges P1M for festival

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu provincial government has pledged P1 million cash assistance to the Sinulog Foundation Inc. to help defray expenses for this year’s celebration.

Governor Hilario Davide III said the assistance is yet to be released to SFI but he has already informed SFI Executive Director Ricky Ballesteros and other officials about the pledge during a meeting.

“Mr. Ballesteros and some members of the foundation were here and reiterated their request. But there’s no official communication yet,” he told reporters.

The SFI has been receiving cash assistance from Capitol with P500,000 as the least amount given.

In 2013, Capitol decided to extend only P500,000 to SFI due to ‘financial constraints’ experienced by the province at that time. Last year, the amount was increased to P1 million.

The SFI, however, has yet to claim the P1.5 million total amount from 2013 and 2014.

The collection was hampered by SFI’s failure to get re-accreditation from the Provincial Board because the number of the SFI members present during the accreditation proceedings did not meet the requirement under accreditation rules.

November last year, the Provincial Board finally renewed the foundation’s accreditation.

Ballesteros, in a separate interview, said they can now claim the assistance after they submitted all the necessary requirements.

“Sa among part, naka-comply na man mi, like sa reaccreditation. Gi-process na pud na sa Capitol,” he told The Freeman.

Ballesteros added that the amount would greatly help to subsidize expenses like transportation and billeting of out-of-town contingents.

He said the SFI board will meet today to come up with a formal resolution to request for assistance from the province.

“Dako na ni kaayo og tabang kay dako kaayo pud ta og gasto sa celebration. Pasalamat ta sa Capitol kay kanunay gyud sila mohatag,” he said.

Davide said he wants to expedite the process so that the assistance would be released before the celebration.

“Mao man gyud untay purpose ana (assistance) aron magamit nila before sa event,” he said.

Provincial Budget Officer Danilo Rodas confirmed that the province has budget for the aid. “Mag-agad ra pud ta ni governor pila ang ihatag,” he said.  (FREEMAN)