Capitol gives P1M for Sinulog ‘14

CEBU, Philippines - The provincial government has pledged P1 million to the Sinulog Foundation, Inc. for this year’s Sinulog festivities.

Governor Hilario Davide III said the amount will help SFI defray its expenses, considering that it is bigger than the P300,000 the province donated last year when Vice Governor Agnes Magpale sat as acting governor.

Davide said Capitol donated a meager amount last year because the province was experiencing financial difficulties.

“Gamay ra gyod kay pait kaayo tong panahona, gamay ra ang atong kwarta ato (The amount was quite small last year because the province had financial problems at that time),” he said.

For his part, SFI Executive Director Ricky Ballesteros admitted that they were not expecting the amount, considering that the province is also spending for the rehabilitation of towns in northern Cebu affected by the recent typhoon.

Aside from the financial assistance, Capitol also lend its buses to the foundation so they can be used to ferry out-of-town contingents. The province has 26 buses used for its “Suroy-Suroy” program.

“The Kaohsiung buses are only for metro Cebu, they cannot travel beyond Danao and Carcar, katong mga lagyo nga lugar,” Ballesteros added. The Kaohsiung buses are owned by the city.

Meanwhile, Ballesteros said there are fewer dancing contingents participating this year considering the calamities that hit the areas in the Visayas.

For the Sinulog sa Kabataan set on January 11, the province will be sending five elementary schools and four high schools. From Cebu City, seven elementary and five secondary schools will be participating.

Despite the fewer contingents, Ballesteros said the public can still expect the same quality in the performances.

“I even encouraged them to come up with new concept and storyline,” he  said. –/JMO (FREEMAN)