CEBU City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia clarified that the Cebu Provincial Government is not obligated to fulfill its commitment to fund the Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) for the 2024 Sinulog Festival was conditional.
The clarification followed the City Council’s Jan. 15, 2025, session, where a resolution by Councilor Joel Garganera was approved, allowing the City to request financial assistance from the Province for the Sinulog Festival at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC). However, five councilors abstained from voting.
During the discussion of the approval of the resolution on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, some councilors questioned the propriety of the City asking for fund assistance from Cebu Province.
The Provincial Government, led by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, pledged P20 million in 2024 and P8 million in 2023 to the Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI).
However, Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera revealed that the total P28 million commitment has yet to be released.
Pesquera noted that the City and SFI fulfilled the Province’s conditions for the 2024 Sinulog sa Lalawigan, as it was held successfully at the CCSC with free tickets.
Not obligated
The mayor explained that the Provincial Government is not obligated to provide financial aid, nor can the City Government force them to release funding.
Garcia echoed Councilor James Cuenco’s explanation that the Province’s 2024 commitment was based on the condition that the funding will be released if the festival will be held at the CCSC.
Since the event was instead held at the South Road Properties (SRP), the conditions were not met, and the funds were redirected to support Sinulog sa Lalawigan contingents.
“Instead of giving it to the Sinulog Foundation, she gave it directly to the contingents that participated, so that it benefitted the Sinulog,” said Garcia.
He added that any future donation remains at the discretion of the Provincial Government and can be directed to either SFI or the City Government. If granted, the City would allocate the funds into a trust fund for additional 2025 Sinulog Festival expenses.
“We cannot choose where the donor will donate; either the funds will be donated to SFI or City Government, it will still be used for Sinulog Festival expenses,” said Garcia.
Garcia assured that the P105 million budget for this year’s Sinulog is sufficient, despite subsidies of P1.5 million for out-of-town contingents and P1 million for Cebu City contingents. The 2025 allocation marks an increase from P80 million in 2024. / EHP