Cebu City’s budget row slashes Sinulog 2016 budget to PhP25-M
CEBU CITY, Jan. 10 (PNA) -- The Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) will receive a financial assistance of only PhP25 million this year, the same aid for last year, because the Cebu City government is operating on reenacted 2015 budget.
SFI Executive Director Ricky Ballesteros said the city government set aside PhP30 million for this year’s Sinulog, but Cebu City Acting Mayor Edgardo Labella rejected the 2016 PhP6.4-billion annual budget.
Ballesteros said they will have to work on the PhP25-million budget.
The executive and legislative departments have taken opposing stands on whether or not the 2016 annual budget has been validly passed.
Ballesteros said there will only be seven visiting contingents for this year’s grand parade on Jan. 17, from the 10 out-of-town contingents last year.
These are Catbalogan City in Samar, Panglao in Bohol, Abuyog in Leyte, Province of Lanao del Norte, Tangub City, Province of Masbate and Municipality of Placer in Masbate.
Ballesteros said they are expecting a total of 30 contingents this year, or 10 contingents less than last year’s 40 contingents.
Ballesteros said they will use the city’s financial assistance to pay for the prizes in the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan, Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan and the grand parade.
But despite the limited budget, he said they have increased the top prize for the Sinulog sa Kabataan from PhP300,000 last year to PhP350,000 this year.
Ballesteros said they will also use the city’s cash aid to extend subsidies to the out-of-town contingents and pay the transportation cost of those from Cebu Province.
Ballesteros said the subsidy amounts to PhP200,000, which the foundation increased from PhP150,000 last year.
The transportation subsidy amounts to PhP120,000, round-trip. (PNA)
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