Labella: Sinulog board no authority over SFI

CEBU, Philippines — Mayor Edgardo Labella has clarified that the newly-formed Cebu City Sinulog Governing Board (CCSGB) does not have any superior authority over the Sinulog Foundation, Inc., an independent non-government organization, helping organize the Sinulog 2020.

Labella made the clarification after at least three officials of the CCSGB claimed on Monday that the board will serve as the regulatory body that will oversee SFI and its executive committee.

CCSGB event director Val Sandiego, executive director Barney Borja, and member Kenneth Cobonpue claimed during a press conference that they have the right to review and approve all resolutions and actions of the SFI executive committee.

Labella, chairman of CCSGB, said the governing board is responsible for the peace and order, traffic situation, and the disaster preparedness for the Sinulog 2020. He emphasized that the Sinulog governing board and SFI have complementing roles when it comes to the Sinulog preparations.

"No one is under or above the other... they are complementary with each other with one ultimate objective- the success of Sinulog 2020," said Labella.

"In fact, there are some members of the governing board who are also members of the board of trustees of the Sinulog foundation so that they can interact, they can collaborate, they can coordinate with each other," he added.

The mayor said he sees no problem in the Sinulog preparations as long as the CCSGB and SFI agree with each other.

"If they agree among themselves certain items that they have agreed in their meetings, I'll take a look at it," said Labella.

"Whatever they have agreed, we have to respect it," he said.

The SFI has assured the Cebuanos that they will continue with its preparations as the organizers of the Sinulog 2020 festival, "coordinating, complementing, and cooperating" with CCSGB.

The SFI has been the organizer of the Sinulog festivities for more than 30 years now.  FPL (FREEMAN)