Organizers to Hike Subsidy to Dancing Contingents in Sinulog 2017

The Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI), organizers of the annual Sinulog Grand Parade held every third Sunday of January in Cebu City, will raise the subsidies of dancing contingents in the 2017 Sinulog celebration.

Cebu City Councilor Hanz Abella, Sinulog executive committee head, said the increase on the subsidy would be determined in their next executive committee meeting.

A subsidy would also be given to participating barangays, he said.

The SFI has been giving Php 200,000 as financial assistance to out-of-town contingents and those from Cebu Province and Php 120,000 for their transportation.

Abella said they would increase the subsidy as they expected fewer participants in the grand parade next year.

“There are only few who signified to join because of the change of administration. The contingents are not being supported by their local government units. They don’t have budgets so we are planning to increase the subsidy,” he said.

Earlier, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he would no longer allow public elementary and high schools from the city to join the Sinulog sa Kabataan.

Osmena said the participants must come from the barangays.

SFI executive director Ricky Ballesteros said the Sinulog sa Barangay and the Sinulog sa Kabataan Lalawigan each had 10 contingents.

Ballesteros said the grand parade only have four out-of-town contingents, those from Lanao del Norte, Dumaguete City, Catbalogan City in Samar and Tangub City.

The two contingents from Placer, Masbate so the Kulturang Placereño will not be able to defend its title in the Sinulog-based category.

The contingent from Panglao in Bohol will also not join the Sinulog next year. (PNA)RMA/EB/RSM