THE Kadayawan Foundation, the city's private-partner for the Kadayawan festival, is yet to collect fees from groups and companies that listed their activities under the accredited events during the celebration.
Lawyer Rollie Dumalag, Kadayawan Foundation chair, said the Kadayawan activities were successful even though they still have to collect fees.
The Kadayawan executive committee set guidelines for accreditation of events for the Kadayawan celebration.
Based on the guidelines, the accreditation fee for events is P 20,000, while the use of Kadayawan logo is P 10,000.
The accreditation was open to all events or activities of any corporation, association, group or individual.
As far as he can recall, Dumalag said only one group applied for the use of the Kadayawan logo.
However, he said they are starting to collect the fees from the groups with approved accreditation.
Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre, Kadayawan spokesperson and City Council committee chair for tourism, said the accreditation fees were agreed by the executive committee.
The accreditation fees were implemented to monitor activities during the Kadayawan, he said.
"Some of the event organizers are taking advantage like solicit and claim that they are part of the accredited events in the city," Alejandre said.
"Our restriction is to protect the execom (executive committee) and the accreditation is only for the use of the logo and the Kadayawan font so that should there be any problem that arises from those not accredited, then the city is not liable. It's easy for people to think that all activities are initiated by the city. The accreditation is for us to screen eh quality of event," he said.
Once accredited, he said the event will be part of the promotion of the City Government.
"We did not disallow anyone from holding an event in August. We encourage them. Our only condition is that they can't use the official logo and fonts. But, again we would raise this sa among execom kay help man pud ni nato sa city," he said.
Alejandre said the fees will be a means to contribute to the funds for the celebration.
"Naglisud gyud ang execom to cope up with a budget. So, kani para win-win support pud sa city sa atong activities nga dili lang pud magkalisud sa budget (The execom had a difficult time raising funds. This is seen as a win-win proposition since the fees are considered as the organizers' help to the city)," he said.
Alejandre also thanked all the sponsors during the event. However, the accreditation fees did not sit well with City Tourism Officer Lisette Marques.
"It was not actually enforced by the government. The foundation is the one that enforced that," Marques said.
"Yung tinanong ko yan sa execom, anti-tourist sa akin yun. Masama sa loob ko na magsabi sa mga tao na ipromote nila yung Kadayawan pero hind ituloy ma promote kasi may bayad," she added.
She said it was "impossible" for her to approve the accreditation fees guidelines.
"My opinion is it counters the promotion. It's against the essence of promotion. I'm part of execom so whatever the majority has approved, wala ko'y mahimo kay dili man ni sila isa katao lang (I can't do anything because this is not run by one person alone)," Marques said.
As of press time, the final list of accredited events is yet to be finalized.