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Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Mayor relents on Sinulog aid
As requested by the mayor, the Sinulog Foundation Inc. will be giving away more valuable and improved trophies to the winning contingents in the grand parade next month, after the mayor agreed to increase the budget for the event.
Sinulog Foundation executive director Ricky Ballesteros said the proposed improvements for the grand parade will now be possible after Mayor Tomas Osmeña “agreed in principle” to increase the Cebu City Government’s financial aid to the foundation.
Instead of just P3 million, the foundation will get P8 million from the City.
One of the new features of the trophies is the gold-plated commemorative coin bearing the seal of the City Government.
Instead of acrylic and wood, the trophies for next month’s event will be made of stone-cast materials and steel.
“We had a meeting with him last Dec. 22 and he already agreed in principle to increase the budget, but we agreed to spend only for the necessary improvements. We just explained to him that for the prizes alone, we need P7.2 million, so he agreed after we explained to him where the money will go,” Ballesteros said in a phone interview yesterday.
National TV
The mayor also reminded the foundation to improve the stage decorations and television coverage and to subsidize some of the out-of-town contingents.
Osmeña earlier said he would reject proposals to increase the City’s budget for the Sinulog grand parade, because the foundation has enough funds to cover the expenses.
“One of the things the mayor said is that the trophies should be more valuable and should have a better design so instead of using wood, we decided to use steel and include gold-plated commemorative items,” Ballesteros said.
He said, though, that only the top five winners in the Sinulog-based and free interpretation categories will get the special trophies, which cost P4,000 each, excluding the commemorative coins.
As of yesterday, only nine contingents have registered to join the grand parade next month, but Ballesteros said the number will increase, since some opt to register days before the Jan. 15 parade. (LCR)
(December 28, 2005 issue)
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