Sibonga gets P3 million for Pasigarbo aid

CEBU, Philippines — The Municipality of Sibonga is the first of 52 participating towns to receive the Capitol’s P3-million check as subsidy for this year’s Pasigarbo sa Sugbo during their Bonga Festival last Thursday.

Aside from the financial support, the Cebu Provincial Government led by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia also gave Sibonga town an additional ?3.9 million.

Of the amount, the seven contingents from clustered barangays and Department of Education schools received ?200,000, meanwhile, the Local Government Unit (LGU) will get ?2.5 million to defray their town’s expenses for the said festival.

In a post by Sugbo News, the Capitol’s official media arm, Garcia applauded the town’s contingents for showcasing discipline and artistry during their town’s Bonga Festival.

“Let me congratulate all of the seven contingents. Nakita g’yud ang inyong paningkamot, nakita ang discipline, artistry,” she said in her speech.

The Bonga Festival, as reported, highlights the fruitful reward of hard work and perseverance, expressed in the Cebuano term “bonga” or fruit, in honor of Our Lady of the Pillar and Santa Filomena.

This festival will be showcased by Sibonga in the upcoming Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2024 on August 25 which will be held at the Cebu City Sports Center.

As reported, the Cebu Provincial Government has increased the subsidy for each 52 LGU-based contingents as they are expected to level up their performances this year.

The Capitol’s subsidy for each participating contingent last year was just ?2 million for the mainland Cebu LGUs and ?2.5 million for the island LGUs.

This year, the mainland Cebu LGUs, including Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu will now get ?3 million, while island LGUs of Santa Fe, Bantayan, and Madridejos in Bantayan Island and Pilar, Tudela, Poro, and San Francisco in Camotes Island will get ?3.5 million each.

As Cebu City joins this year’s Pasigarbo sa Sugbo as a guest contingent, it will also get the ?3 million financial aid.

The Pasigarbo sa Sugbo is a cultural festival celebrating the founding anniversary of Cebu Province, where the different towns and cities of Cebu gather to showcase their respective festivals. (CEBU NEWS)