DINAGYANG 2006 UPDATE
No more floating hotel, no homestay scheme for visitors
Iloilo City -- The Negros Navigation has turned down the request of the Iloilo City Government to use one of their passenger ships as a "floating hotel" in the forthcoming Dinagyang celebration. While, nothing was heard on the plans of Councilor Merci Drilon-Garcia on the proposed "homestay" scheme.
Francis Cruz, executive assistant to the mayor, said the shipping company has already denied the request of the city government to use one of their ships as "floating hotel." The proposal to have a floating hotel as added attraction to Dinagyang festival was conceptualized in previous years but nothing good came up on their plans.
Cruz, on the other hand, said several dignitaries have already signified their intentions to witness the yearly festival. They are still waiting for some confirmations from the different embassies. Those who already confirmed their attendance are Ambassadro Yehoshua Sagi of Israel, Ambassador Annika Markovic of Sweden, Israel Attache Ziv David, Nigerian Charge d' Affairs Dada Olisa, US Consul General Richard Haynes, US Embassy Anti-Fraud Division chief Matthew Taylor and JICA consultant Nozaki Seiki. They will also be joined by their wives and children.
DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Secretary Waldo Flores, Senator Francis Pangilinan, Senator Edgardo Angara and Senator Jamby Madrigal will also grace the celebration.
Meanwhile, Councilor Garcia has yet to firm up her plan to have a "homestay" scheme this coming Dinagyang to accommodate all the visitors in the city. Last week, Mayor Jerry Treņas announced that all hotels in Iloilo City are already booked.
In last year's opening ceremony of the Dinagyang, Garcia even hinted that she will file a resolution regarding the proposed homestay scheme before the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
Garcia, chair of the committee on tourism, has not even designed her proposed plan. The members of the IDFI was caught flatfooted when asked by media on the updates regarding the homestay scheme since all hotels are already booked.
Tourism consultant and chair of the committee on dignitaries and VIP's Tess Cataluņa was not aware of Garcia's earlier pronouncement to the media. The councilor was not available for comment at press time.