AROUND P2 million worth of funds allocated by the Iloilo City Government for the participants of the Aliwan Fiesta on April 26 to 28 in Manila.
Mayor Jose Espinosa III said during the press conference on April 2 in Iloilo City Hall that they already have the said amount of budget for Tribu Panayanon from the City Government. Last year, they provided about P1 million.
According to the Iloilo City Tourism and Development Officer Junel Ann Divinagracia, the support is ready to be released to the tribe.
Ben Jmena, special assistant for special events, stated that the tribe is requesting an added P1.4 million.
This year’s Dinagyang Festival champion, Panayanon of Iloilo City National Highschool (ICNHS) said that the additional budget is for the enhancements of props and costumes and for the additional talent fees of the choreographer and dance master.
Divinagracia stressed that the present budget was already doubled by the city mayor and they were hoping that the tribe will align the budget for their expenses.
As of now, the lack of expenses has not yet been confirmed by the tribe’s choreographer Romel Flogen.
Divinagracia said that the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI) should have saved a certain amount for the promotion of Dinagyang.
Jimena also directed the ICNHS to come up with the justification for the requested added budget.
“We have won Aliwan without unnecessary spending a lot in the past,” Jimena said.
For him, the tribe should have minimize the big props which consumes a huge amount of budget.
Jimena expressed that the Espinosa have already confirmed their presence on the festival.
“We could go to Aliwan but with the budget that can be afford by the city and IDFI,” he added.
The tribe were already having their continuous practice since they were aiming to be held as the champion on the event and expected to go a week before the program proper. (Carolyn Jane Abello)