City hall looking for ways to release money: COA nod needed for Sinulog funds

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City government cannot release the prizes, honoraria, and subsidies for those who took part in January’s Sinulog activities unless it can get clearance from the Commission on Audit (COA), said Administrator Floro Casas, Jr.

A clearance from COA is reportedly important because the regional IATF has not approved of the Sinulog.

“Katong mga activities, nahitabo before pa sa declaration sa IATF, na-consummate gyud na siya, but ang amoang problema karon is pag-release sa funds, considering nga wala man gyud to siya na-approve. So, gipangitaan pa na siya og paagi nga mabayran na sila nga dili sad ta masango sa COA, considering nga naa man guy declaration (to cancel Sinulog). Siguro, ato ra man na ma-justify kay these activities happened before pa sa katong declaration,” Casas said.

He said the city is ready to disburse once COA gets a go signal, considering that it has allocated P22 million for the Sinulog activities.

“Kung wala ra na'y problema, ready man ta mo-disburse,” Casas said.

Resolution No. 97 of the regional IATF reads:

“Even with limiting the number of performers/participants for each contingent or holding of the said activities through a ‘bubble’ concept or even pre-recording the videos of the performances of the performers/contingents in their respective places, it will nevertheless pose an increasing risk of being infected with COVID-19 and/or transmitting the virus since it still requires the performers to gather and interact during their rehearsals and actual performance for the video recordings and will still likely to draw crowds, which may be difficult to be controlled by the law enforcement agencies due to the limited security personnel.”

The regional IATF also recommended that the city just show performances from previous years.

Ways

Vice Mayor Michael Rama, overall convenor of the Sinulog activities, said only the carousel and “bubble type” ritual showdown performances were cancelled.

Those who are yet to receive their prizes and honoraria were participants in other activities like the Sinulog Idol and Sinulog Festival Queen.

With the current dilemma, Rama said the city will look for ways to release the money, even partially.

Rama met with parties concerned on Tuesday to discuss the situation.

“I am being assured that it will take maybe a month to have all of these but we will look for a way nga matagaan na sila ugma (partially),” Rama said yesterday.

“Dili gyud ingon nga the total. Naa may mga area didto nga pwede ra ginganlan nato og kanang i-discuss with the Sinulog Foundation but kining mga winners, kining mga ginganlan nato, ato gyud nang unahon,” he added.

Rama also mentioned that he will have a meeting with the Sinulog Foundation, Inc. to discuss the matter.

“Naa may mga area didto nga dili man mahimo nga atong ipa-handle sa city government kay naa may mga requirements as far as when you talk about City Hall-sponsored activities. This is not only City Hall-sponsored activities. This is a Sinulog activity,” he said.

“Ang authority nako is coming from the Sinulog Foundation. Therefore, I have to bring it to Sinulog Foundation, discuss it with them,” he added.

Winners and other participants of the Sinulog activities have since aired their grievances on social media over the much delayed release of prizes, honoraria, and subsidies, including prominent host and director Sam Costanilla.

Yesterday, Costanilla said he is thankful that Rama is acting on the matter but he will continue to keep an eye on the situation until it is resolved. — JMO (FREEMAN)