EDITORIAL — A good slash

After taking a look at the proposed budget for Cebu City’s activities for Independence Day next month, acting Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia said he was able to slash the budget from ?11 million to a mere ?3 million.

How was he able to do such a feat? He slashed some items from the activities including three celebratory events. One of these is the “Barangayan” event, something with a “Sinulog sa Barangay” competition but with a limited number of contingents. Another is the “Santacruzan”, while the third is a testimonial dinner.

Garcia said he removed the first two items because he didn’t see how relevant they were to the city’s celebration of Independence Day. We don’t know the reason for canceling the testimonial dinner but we are glad that he did anyway, because by doing so, the acting mayor just saved the city ?8 million. Not a bad sum.

Indeed, what do the “Barangayan” and the “Santacruzan” events have to do with the celebration of Independence Day?

We already have one Sinulog event, one that is known all over the world. There is really no need to have another between a select number of barangays. As for the Santacruzan, this is something traditionally held in May. Holding it to celebrate Independence Day isn’t just anachronistic but also impractical.

And for the testimonial dinner? We have nothing against a celebration to show our appreciation for others, but if we can skip one for more practical purposes then so be it.

Cebu City isn’t a poor local government unit, but it isn’t that rich either. It can still stand to save more money and to spend it for more deserving projects and pursuits.

This was a good slash, one that saved a lot of money that can be put to better use. We hope that there will be continued scrutiny of what activities are planned for whatever occasion by the city government and the agencies and officer under it so that irrelevant items can be determined and removed.