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Sun-Star Cebu: Fund pledges pour for 2009 Sinulog


CEBU CITY, Philippines – More companies have called the Sinulog Foundation Inc. to say they want to help sponsor next year’s grand parade if the Cebu City Government is barred from giving P8 million in financial aid. Reports that a Commission on Audit (COA) memorandum threatens the holding of the grand parade and Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s announcement that it could be canceled apparently prompted the offers. "One way of sourcing out funds is through sponsorships. The surest way to augment income is to augment sponsorships. That is why we have to be aggressive in our marketing strategy," said executive director Ricky Ballesteros of the Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI). Despite the COA guidelines, Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama gave instructions to include in the 2009 budget the P8-million financial assistance to the Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI). Rama told the City Council on Thursday he is ready to resign as chairman of the SFI if that is the only way the City will be allowed to spend for the Sinulog festivities this January. He told Councilor Jose Daluz III, chairman of the committee on budget and finance, not to forget to include the amount in the proposed General Fund for 2009. "I do not wish for the Sinulog to die, I’m even willing to die for it... of course that should not be taken literally, but if necessary, let me be insignificant in all of this. Sinulog should never fade," he said during Thursday’s session. COA Circular 2007-001 prohibits any local government unit from giving aid to any nongovernment organization whose incorporator, director, organizer or officer is related to any local official involved in the approval or release of government funds. Exemption In the Sinulog Foundation’s case, Rama is the overall chairman. He expressed optimism earlier that the COA will reconsider. Rama is scheduled to meet with COA officials in Manila next week to discuss the City’s request to be exempted from the guidelines. As of this month, the foundation has some P8.5 million in cash, which is not enough to put up a Sinulog grand parade this January, Ballesteros said. Although the SFI earned P2.8 million from this year’s Sinulog and from the previous years’ activities, it also incurred expenses and made a one-time P5 million donation to the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission. Ballesteros showed Sun.Star Cebu the audit reports from 2002 to 2007 that were submitted to the Bureau of Internal Revenue following allegations of fund misuse and poor management of the SFI. According to the reports, the only time the organizers earned from the Sinulog between 2002 and 2008 was in 2008, 2006, 2005 and 2003. Spending In some years, the SFI spent more than what they have collected from donors and sponsors because of production expenses, honoraria for judges, drivers, creative directors and the organizing committee members, Ballesteros explained. "We always have to find ways to improve and every year, we try to outdo ourselves and the previous year’s production. Otherwise, we will stagnate and will not attract foreign visitors and out-of-town delegations," he toldSun.Star Cebu. Ballesteros said was glad about the reaction of the Cebuanos to the possible cancellation of the grand parade, adding that he, too, felt the same way. "Cebu without a Sinulog is just like a year without Christmas for them, and for me," he said. On the suggestion of Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Ace Durano, Ballesteros said the Cebuanos have long been practicing "bayanihan" for every grand parade. "Almost every sector, the academe, the police, the communicators, help the Sinulog. There are an estimated 10,000 volunteers in every Sinulog," he said. Since Durano became DOT secretary, the foundation received P1 million a year from his office for the Sinulog, he added. Sacrifice The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Ballesteros said, gives P300,000, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., P400,000. In a phone interview, Rama said he wants the P8 million included in the budget because it will take time to prepare, process and release the financial assistance. "We will look for ways to make the financial assistance (legal) but if in the end I need to resign to make the financial aid for the Sinulog activities possible, then no problem, I will resign," he said. In a separate interview, Daluz said he will include the P8-million item in the budget for next year pending the COA’s decision on the City’s request for exemption. The deadline for inclusions in the budget is on October 15. Apart from the Sinulog Foundation, the COA memorandum also affects the Cebu Investment Promotions Center, Cebu City Task Force on Street Children, Cebu Pistol and Rifle Association and the Cebu City Dancesport Team, among others, because a few city officials are either officers or officers’ relatives. - Rene H. Martel, Linette C. Ramos, Sun-Star Cebu
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