IDFI optimistic on P9M budget for 2010 Dinagyang
Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI) president Lee Chuan said they are optimistic to reach the P9 million estimated budget for 2010 Dinagyang Festival despite the economic crisis.
The donations particularly from different telecommunication companies are expected to drop considering the economic crisis and the priorities of the companies for its corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects, he said.
In previous festivals, two competing telecommunication firms, Smart and Globe used to donate millions of pesos. For the 2010 festival, they only pledged P500,000.
The telecommunication firms would prefer to spend in their relief and rehabilitation efforts in Luzon for those families affected by two typhoons.
Lee added that the Megaworld Corporation will not also donate money for the festival. The corporation only donated once. It is understandable considering their stocks dropped in the Philippine Stock Exchange, he said.
The foundation will exert effort to make the 2010 Dinagyang fruitful since is it the last term of Mayor Jerry Treñas. The foundation is grateful with all the assistance of the mayor in looking for sponsors. He personally calls the sponsors, he added.
The foundation started its operation with only P750,000. The budget ballooned through the years. He likened the festival’s budget to a balloon which is already hard to deflate.
The city pledged to donate P5 million for the 2010 festival. The donation would be included in the supplemental budget of the city.
