Sinulog organizers ready in case COA refuses plea

VICE Mayor Michael Rama expects the Commission on Audit (COA) to decide on the Cebu City Government’s request for exemption in granting financial assistance to the Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) within the week.

He, however, assured that if the plea is turned down, the City has already laid out plans, with the help of City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva, to ensure that funds, including prizes, are available for the Sinulog celebration.

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“Nisaad man sila that there is going to be a COA en banc (decision). I’m optimistic that within the week there will be an answer. I hope they can see the necessity to decide on this expeditiously,” said Rama.

“But we have come up with a setup, with the help of the city treasurer, just in case dili gyud (COA refuses),” he added.

So that any disruption in staging Sinulog 2010 can be avoided, Rama will delegate to other Sinulog officials the signing of contracts involving the City’s cash assistance to the SFI.

Unintended consequences

He said the organizers are also planning to make the City Government a co-organizer and host of the event, so it can disburse the funds by itself without having to turn over any amount to the foundation.

COA Circular 2007-001 prohibits any local government unit (LGU) from giving aid to any nongovernment organization (NGO) whose incorporator, director, organizer or officer is related to any local official involved in the approval or release of government funds.

The memorandum was supposedly meant to help prevent graft and corruption.

Issued October 2008, the memorandum also affects the Cebu Investment Promotions Center (CIPC), Cebu City Task Force on Street Children (CCTFSC), Cebu Pistol and Rifle Association (CPRA) and the Cebu City Dancesport Team, because a few city officials are either officers of these groups or are related to their officers.

In the Sinulog Foundation’s case, Vice Mayor Rama is its overall chairman.

Funding support

The City Council has appropriated P10 million for the City’s contribution to SFI, for the cash prizes of winning contingents in the Jan. 17 grand parade.

Another P2.5 million was approved for the staging of the grand finale. The balance of the expenses for the Sinulog is sourced from sponsorships and donations.

Aside from the cash prizes that total around P8 million, the foundation also spends for the promotion and advertising, TV production, supplies and materials, labor and transportation and honorarium of judges.

Rama had said that if the COA wants it, he will resign as SFI overall chairman just so the celebration would not be affected.