CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia defended a measure to ask for financial aid from the Cebu provincial government for the Sinulog Festival, saying it is up to the donor where to give the donation.
Garcia made his statement following a heated discussion on an approved resolution asking for financial aid from the province.
The City Council, during its regular session on Wednesday, approved a resolution authored by Councilor Joel Garganera that seeks to ask for a financial assistance from the province.
The resolution did not specify an exact amount, giving the province its freedom to determine how much it would donate.
However, prior to its approval, the council questioned the method of the resolution, with some legislators suggesting that it should have been the Sinulog Foundation Incorporated (SFI) that would initiate the call for donations instead of the City Council.
Garcia, however, said it isn’t the city’s call to choose where these donations will be given. Regardless of the channel, the donated amount would be used for the Sinulog festivities, he said.
“We cannot choose kung asa ihatag sa donor. Kung the donor will give it to the foundation, then okay. If the donor will decide to give it to the City of Cebu, then we will put the money sa usa ka trust fund so that we can just charge future expenses to the trust fund,” said Garcia.
Among the issues discussed by the council was the higher budget allocation for this year’s Sinulog, with the council pointing out that this may be sufficient enough to fund the overall festivities.
According to Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, the Sinulog budget for this year had already increased from P80 million to P105 million.
Aside from this, Pesquera noted that there were other expenses that the Cebu City government had already taken care of.
Garcia agreed with this, but, admitted that he had reservations about the prizes, considering that this year’s event will have more contingents — 42, which also corresponded to the need of allotted subsidies.
However, some legislators questioned the need to seek for more financial aid from the PlCapitol, if the latter had yet to fulfill its previous commitments to the SFI.
This is after Pesquera, a member of the SFI Executive Committee, explained that Cebu Province had been committing assistance to the SFI, not to the Cebu City government.
For the past two years, Pesquera said, Cebu Province had committed P8 million in financial assistance for 2023 and P20 million for 2024, all coursed through the SFI.
“However, Mr. Chair, as of the present, the province has not transmitted the amount of P28 million to the SFI,” she said during the discussion.
She added that the matter was discussed within the executive committee, where the marketing team of SFI reported that the financial assistance had not been transmitted yet.
Garcia, however, explained that he subscribed to the explanation of Councilor James Anthony Cuenco that the commitment from the Province was contingent upon the grand celebration being held at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC). For the past two years, the Sinulog celebrations were held at the South Road Properties (SRP).
This means, what was agreed was a conditional donation.
“Besides, katong kwartaha nga ilang gi-pledge, I think the governor spent it also on the contingent sa Lalawigan, so katong mga towns or cities nga nangapil sa Sinulog, ang katong kwartaha nga instead ihatag nila sa SFI, iya nalang gihatag sa mga contingents. So ang naka-benefit ato ang SFI gihapon,” said Garcia.
Despite the concerns raised, the Council approved Garganera’s resolution, with five councilors abstaining from voting. — JG (CEBU NEWS)