Budget for Buhing Kalbaryo yet to be approved

CEBU, Philippines - Two weeks before Good Friday, the Cebu City Council has yet to approve the  P475,000 budget for the holding of the yearly Buhing Kalbaryo in Barangay Guadalupe.

Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias proposed a resolution to charge the budget for Buhing Kalbaryo against Pagcor’s fund.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is giving P3 million monthly donation to Cebu City as  its share for allowing Pagcor to operate a gambling casino in the city.

Councilor Margarita“Margot” Osmeña, head of the committee on budget and finance, said that spending Pagcor funds for religious purposes is not in the guidelines.

 The Pagcor guidelines states that the funds must be spent on self-sustainable economic livelihood projects, infrastructure projects essential to the community connected with the delivery of basic health services, projects designed to prevent widespread of diseases or epidemics, those for the improvement of peace and order, emergency assistance to victims of natural disasters and calamities and projects for social amelioration.

Osmeña suggested to refer the matter to City Accountant Diwa Cuevas for her comment and if she will give her nod, the City Council will grant the request to charge the amount against the Pagcor funds.

The Buhing Kalbaryo, which dramatizes the Way of The Cross, will be portrayed by about 200 persons, mostly youth, under the heat of the sun walking the five-kilometer route from San Nicolas Church to Guadalupe Church.  (FREEMAN)