Thursday, September 11, 2008 Editorial: Sinulog just can't be scrapped
SCRAPPING next year’s Sinulog fest, like what Mayor Tomas Osmeña is floating, is a poor threat and propaganda ploy if the purpose is to get around a recent Commission on Audit (COA) circular.
Nobody can unilaterally decide on the future of an event whose value and economic and cultural significance are far larger than the parochial and other ego-driven interests of local officials.
That Osmeña did talk about scrapping the Sinulog only betrays the kind of relationship prevailing between the Sinulog Foundation, a supposedly non-government entity, and Cebu City Hall, particularly its chief executive.
The mayor seems to consider the foundation as another City Hall department, a view that destroys the essence of its creation as an organization tasked to ensure permanence of a major annual cultural undertaking.
The foundation was supposed to shield the Sinulog from the politicking, petty quarrels, corruption and selfishness that often characterize local governance and cause a break in the continuity of the celebration.
Real problem
In a sense, this bringing into the limelight of City Hall’s relationship with the Sinulog Foundation vindicates the COA circular, which aims to prevent an unholy alliance between officials of a local government unit and those of non-government organizations, especially involving public funds.
The problem, then, is not the COA circular but the failure of City Hall officials to accept the logic of the new guideline, especially as far as it applies to the hosting of the Sinulog.
The scrapping of next year’s Sinulog won’t become the natural consequence of the issuance of the circular if City Hall officials in the foundation won’t hold on to their posts like a leech.
Alternatives
Besides, even if the P8 million financial assistance City Hall is giving won’t be factored in when considering the hosting of the Sinulog, the foundation would not be totally paralyzed.
Either a toned-down Sinulog would be in place or other sources of funding would be secured to make up for what is lost if City Hall’s financial aid is taken away.
The holding of the Sinulog should not be tied to either the P8 million City Hall financial aid or to City Hall officials holding on to the reins of the foundation.
