Budget for Araw ng Dabaw still being discussed

THE 76th Araw ng Dabaw celebration will kick off next week, but the City Government of Davao is still in the process of finalizing the budget for the festival.

In a text message, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said details of the Araw's budget, which will be taken from the city's annual budget, is still being discussed.

She said the approved amount will be announced as soon as they are done with the specifics of the budget.

The City Council approved the P4.5-billion annual budget for 2013 in December 2012.

Of the total annual budget amount, P3,578,736,911 is allocated for the general fund proper (personal services, maintenance and other operating expenses, and capital outlay); economic enterprises (markets, slaughter houses, cemeteries, Sta. Ana port, DCRC, Magsaysay Park) is at P106,780,230; and the remaining P882,671,981 is set aside for the annual development fund (debt servicing, non-infrastructure program and infrastructure programs).

Duterte-Carpio also assured the approval of the budget for the first major celebration of the city this year.

It can be recalled that there was a delay in the approval of P400 million Supplemental Budget 3 (SB3), where the funds for the Pasko Fiesta 2012 and Christmas bonus for the employees of the City Hall, were to be taken.

The city mayor blamed City Treasurer Rodrigo Riola after the latter refused to certify the SB3.

The local finance committee, however, was able to resolve the issue.

"So far, wala man girefer sa akoa na problem pero wala pa pud nahuman sila ug specifics. Nahuman lang ang EO (executive order) and list of events, in the coming days ang total budget," the mayor said.

"It's just a matter of doing the project design for the activity," she added.

For its Diamond celebration last year, the city allocated P8.2 million, the bulk of which was allotted for prices of both city-initiated and private sector-initiated activities.

The Duaw Dabaw Foundation Inc., one of the private partners of the City Government of Davao, has set aside P5.2 million for this year's festival.

Lisette Marquez, spokesperson for Duaw, said the large chunk will be for the screening, talent, pre-pageant, and grand coronation night of the Mutya ng Dabaw. (Arianne Caryl N. Casas)