Rama settles Sinulog prizes using funds from his own pocket

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama shelled out his personal money to cover for the city’s financial obligation to winners and participants of Sinulog 2021 while the city cannot release its own funds just yet absent of a go signal from the Commission on Audit (COA).

The winners and participants received their prizes, honoraria, and subsidies after five months of waiting.

Rama, the overall convenor of last January’s Sinulog, did not disclose how much he had to shell out exactly but said what is important is that the matter has been addressed.

“Ayaw na lang ko pangutan-a pila. Ang importante nakabayad ta’s mga tawo. Bahala’g kitay mangutang, basta makabayad ta’s mga tawo nga nagtrabaho,” Rama told The Freeman yesterday.

Several of those involved in the Sinulog activities, including prominent host and director Sam Costanilla who hosted the Sinulog Idol All Stars, have aired their grievances on social media about the delay in the release of funds.

City Administrator Floro Casas, Jr. said earlier that the city cannot release the prizes, honoraria, and subsidies unless it can get clearance from COA because the regional IATF did not approved of the Sinulog in general.

“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.

The city has allocated P22 million for the Sinulog activities.

Among the activities that pushed through were the Sinulog Idol All Stars and Sinulog Festival Queen.

Groups that were supposed to participate in the planned Sinulog carousel, which had to be cancelled, had to be reimbursed of their spending. 

Receipt

Well-known make-up artist, Janna Fernan, one of the Sinulog Festival queen handlers, told The Freeman that they were finally given what they have long been waiting for.

Fernan received a total of P90,000 on behalf of her talents. The Festival Queen took home P70,000 while the first and second runners-up got P50,000 and P30,000, respectively, plus undisclosed amounts for the special awards.

“Giuna ang sa Festival Queen dayon ang mga choreographers. Na-release na gyud siya. Nauna kos linya kay ako may gauna-una ug yawyaw sa Facebook,” Fernan said.

She said they were surprised after the staging of the Sinulog Festival Queen in January that they had to wait for a week as the prizes were still being processed. Fernan said the organizer got their numbers but they did not hear from the city ever since until after five months.

Fernan said that while she understood the situation, they, too, had obligations to the talents they were handling. She herself spent for the costumes for her candidates.

As far as the cancelled Sinulog Carousel is concerned,ac the 12 participating groups received the remaining P50,000 as subsidy for their expenses, including for the costumes and props.

“Yes, nakuha na gyud tawn namo.At least nakuha-kuhaan among gasto. Dako-dako gyud mi’g nagasto na ato pero, sige na lang, at least naay nabalik namo. Pag una, ang gi-release P100 thousand nya P50,000 ganina,” said Barangay San Nicolas captain Clifford Jude Niñal.

The Sinulog Idol winners also received their prizes yesterday while the other payables are expected to be settled soon.

Situation

Rama is hopeful that the executive department can settle the matter soon.

“Kabalo man ka nga I will always look for solutions and, at the same time, let the executive pursue their duties and responsibilities kay kabalo man ka nga they should even be thankful that we have a celebration of the Sinulog,” Rama told The Freeman.

“Ang budget, mayor, primado, konseho pirmado so what is there for the city government to do is actually to really address the concern and the Sinulog Foundation for some of the things na dili na apil ang City Hall,” Rama said.

Rama said he is set to meet with the Sinulog Foundation to discuss other concerns. — JMO  (FREEMAN)