No increase in Dinagyang prizes next year
There would be no increase in the prizes for the Dinagyag tribes competition next year.
Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI) vice chair Ricardo Andrada said they could not implement any increase in the prize money for the winners since the foundation already provides subsidies to the competing tribes.
The grand champion for the Dinagyang competition receives P100,000 cash prize; 1st runner-up P50,000; 2nd runner-up P40,000; 3rd runner up P30,000 and 4th runner up P20,000.
Andrada said the foundation spends more than P3 million in form of subsidy alone for the participating tribes. They could have used the amount in increasing the cash prizes.
The subsidy depends on the performance level shown by the tribes in the past Dinagyang competitions. The subsidy to the participating tribes is in the priority list of the foundation in order to ensure the quality of their performances as well as their costumes.
There are tribes that receive 100 percent subsidy from the foundation while others only receive 75 percent subsidy.
The tribes ranked from the first to the 10th place receives P220,000 subsidy, while tribes from 11th to 15th place receives P165,000.
Apart from subsidy to the competing tribes, the foundation likewise releases subsidy to competing groups in the Kasadyahan contest.
In 2008, the foundation has released P3,025,000 subsidy for the 15 competing tribes. The foundation subsidized the 15 competing tribes that made a commendable performance in the last three years.
The first ten of the 15 tribes received P220,000 each while the five remaining tribes received P165,000 subsidy.
Cash prizes are at stake for the grand champion until the fourth runner up. There are also cash prizes for minor awards for the best in performance, best in choreography, best in music, best in costume and best in street dancing.