Thursday, January 10, 2008 Capitol to give P500T as aid for Sinulog
THE Provincial Government will be donating P500,000 to the Sinulog Foundation for a project that will showcase the attractions of the island along the grand parade route.
The amount includes an increase of P200,000 in its donation for the “See Cebu In A Carousel.” Last year, the Capitol gave P300,000.
“See Cebu In A Carousel,” a project of the foundation during the Sinulog celebration, features the different tourist spots and attractions of Cebu on large tarpaulin sheets displayed around the grand parade route.
The foundation sent a solicitation letter to Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, who decided to increase the donation to half a million pesos. The donation is now being processed and will be released to the foundation next week.
Increase
The increase comes despite an ongoing row between Garcia and Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña. Recently, Osmeña denied a Capitol consultant’s request that the dancing inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) be allowed to dance during the grand parade.
Garcia earlier said she respects Osmeña’s decision because the parade is within the territorial jurisdiction of Cebu City and the local chief executive’s judgment must be respected.
Osmeña raised security concerns in rejecting the request.
Garcia called on Cebuanos not to mar the Sinulog festivities with bickering or political color and instead make the activity a “grand celebration of unity.”
The governor, instead, decided to just open the CPDRC to the public on Jan. 18 so the inmates can still perform their dance.
They will perform three times on that day, with 200 spectators allowed to view each show for free. The CPDRC inmates’ video has become a hit in the video-sharing site YouTube. (MBG)
