CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The City Government signed Thursday afternoon a contract with Robinsons Starmills here for the staging of the 2009 Giant Lantern Festival (GLF).

The right to sponsor and host the GLF is the second in a row for the mall after last year when it outbid SM City Pampanga for the much awaited December festival.

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For this year, Robinsons Starmills put in for the GLF a P1.68 million package.

But even before the contract was inked, Mayor Oscar Rodriguez pointed to two provisions that had to be deleted in the contract, among them the "option" of the mall to have rights on the GLF for next year.

"I think this has to be done away. It is only the City Council who has the options on where the next GLF should be staged like if they decide to hold it at the city plaza or in the other mall. Baka isipin ng mga tao eh may under the table ako dito," Rodriguez said.

After clarifying the issues, including the responsibility of public safety, the contract was signed by Rodriguez, Robinsons Vice President for Property Management Tommy O, Robinsons Land General Manager Cornelio Mapa, Jr. and 2009 GLF Executive Committee Chairman Lourdes Javier.

Seven barangays will compete in the 2009 GLF, which was won by Telabastagan last year. An initial P60,000 had been given on Thursday to the chiefs of the barangays that include Sto. Niño, Del Pilar, San Jose, San Nicolas, Dolores, Sto. Rosario and Sta. Lucia.

Also inked by the City Government was a contract for the GLF exclusive live telecast with Laus Group owned-CLTV 36 led by Creative Head Dior Laus and Deputy Manager Billy San Juan.

"We hope that this year, the GLF would be better. It is a symbol of our being a Lantern Capital of the country. The City Government would definitely continue to support this industry and our lantern makers which are known the world over," Rodriguez said.