Rotary may decline P1M city assistance

CEBU, Philippines — The Rotary Club District 3860 may no longer accept the P1-million assistance approved by the Cebu City Council as reimbursement for its district conference at NUSTAR Resort and Casino following strong public reaction to the allocation.

The reimbursement, which drew criticism from Councilor Harold Go, was questioned as excessive and unnecessary amid funding shortages affecting basic social programs.

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival’s chief of staff, Kenneth Siasar, confirmed that Rotary representatives have informed the mayor of their plan to withdraw their acceptance of the financial assistance.

“Initially, ni-dool ang katong taga Rotary, unya ingon sila nga ang ilang intention is not to amass financial gain coming from Cebu City, but to help. So kung naay mahatag ang city, mas labing maayo. Kung walay mahatag, sila’y mo hatag,” Siasar said.

“…And then ingon sila nga possibility of not accepting, although there was this approval from the City Council, the possibility of not accepting anymore that assistance coming from the city mas taas-taas,” he added.

Siasar said Archival, while supportive of Rotary’s work, is also sensitive to public sentiment.

“The Mayor is sensitive to the reaction sa public. After all, ang iyang power emanates from the people nga maoy nag palingkod niya isip sa mayor,” he explained.

Archival has asked Rotary to submit a formal letter declining the assistance before making an official pronouncement. Despite the controversy, Siasar stressed that the relationship between Rotary and the city remains strong.

“Ang relasyon sa city or sa mayor ug sa ila, magpadayon in terms of their assistance of helping the Cebu City. Tungod lang kay kining mga tawhana sad mga statesman, and very sensitive to the concern sa public, mo yield sila, and then mo hatag sila ug official communication. But it has nothing to do with the relationship between the Cebu City government ug sa ilaha,” he said.

During the  council’s last session, Go argued that public funds should instead be directed to more urgent needs, including food for children at Operation Second Chance, medicines for indigent patients and other essential services.

Go stressed that “public funds are not simply available money. They are the people’s money, and every peso must have a clear, necessary, and measurable public benefit.”

Go’s position drew public support, with some questioning why Rotary was granted a large reimbursement when other nongovernment organizations also contribute to Cebu’s welfare.

Councilor Nyza Archival, niece of the mayor and sponsor of the resolution, defended the allocation, citing Rotary’s long-standing partnership with Cebu through projects involving schools, libraries, health institutions and emergency response.

Councilor Philip Zafra, meanwhile, acknowledged that Cebu City currently has no clear guidelines governing subsidies for NGOs, with decisions largely left to the executive department. — (FREEMAN)