IDFI vows speedy release of Dinagyang financial report
Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI) executive director Ben Jimena assured that the foundation will soon release their financial statement regarding the expenditures and donations they had received for the Dinagyang Festival 2007. Initially, the foundation spent some P4 million for both the Kasadyahan and ati-ati competitions, said Jimena.
Jimena said they will release the financial report within February.
Jimena said, this early he could not categorically say on whether the city "profited" from the festivity. "The celebration is not a business venture," Jimena stressed.
Jimena disclosed they are still awaiting several pledges.
Apart from the financial statement, Jimena said they will institute more innovations in next year's celebration though they considered the 2007 Dinagyang celebration as the "best ever Dinagyang again." The innovations would include having additional street dancing areas and lessening of judging areas, from five judging areas to four judging areas.
He specifically cited the judging area between the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand and the Plazoleta Gay area. Since the distance is very near, Jimena hinted of eliminating the judging area in Plazoleta Gay. We are looking forward to have only four judging areas, he said.
Instead of having a judging area in Plazoleta Gay, Jimena said, they could have a street dancing said area. This year, there were only two street dancing areas, one along Corner Valeria-General Luna and the other in Corner Quezon-Delgado.
In earlier media briefings, the foundation also wanted to have only 15 tribes in the ati-ati competition. Next year's 15 participating tribes will be determined based on the result of this year's Dinagyang competition.