Trenas optimistic on Dinagyang P13M budget target
INSPITE of low turn-out in the sponsorships for the 2009 Dinagyang festival, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas is optimistic the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Incorporated (IDFI) will reach its P13 million budget-target.
Trenas along with Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. and Representative Raul Gonzalez Jr. (Iloilo City Lone District) are working closely to get additional sponsors for next year's festivity.
"It is a little bit harder but it is not impossible," the mayor said.
To date, two telecommunication companies committed P1,250,000 to the foundation. The Globe Telecommunications, which used to be the top sponsor in 2008 committed a cash sponsorship of only P750,000 in 2009 Dinagyang.
Smart Communications, on the other pledged to give cash donations of P700,000 to the foundation for next year's festival which placed Iloilo City in the tourism map.
In 2008, Globe Telecommunications gave a cash sponsorship of P2,000,000 and P1,250,000 from Smart Communications.
To note, the cash donations of the two telecommunications now tremendously decreased.
The foundation only started to look for sponsorship two weeks ago after the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) approved the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the city government and IDFI. The MOA signing was delayed after Councilor Eldrid Antiquiera questioned the financial statement of the foundation.
The city is committed to release cash donations of P3 million to the foundation. While, Congressman Gonzalez will also give P500,000 as his contribution just to meet the financial requirements of the festival, said Trenas.
Of the P3 million city's donations to the foundation, the council has already approved P1.5 million. However, the city government has yet to release the amount to the foundation.