Reyna lobbies for baratillo ordinance
THE hermano mayor of Dagupan’s fiesta this year is pushing for the early passage of the City Baratillo Ordinance that will automatically allocate 50 percent of the total revenues earned from the commercial fairs for the management of the city event, whether fiesta or the annual Bangus Festival.
“Since it’s the fiesta that generates the revenues, it should receive a substantial allocation. Kasi kung tutuusin, kung walang fiesta, walang tiangge,” explained Liberato ‘Ope’ Reyna, president of the Dagupan City People’s Council, the official federation of non-government organizations (NGOs) in the city.
Under the new administration of Mayor Belen Fernandez, which is facing financial constraints due to fund mismanagement by the previous administration, the city government will not provide seed money for the Dagupan City Fiesta this December.
REYNA
Reyna cited difficulties in managing the traditional grand event without any fund assistance from the local government.
The hermano mayor, however, maintains he is not complaining because he said it is better to keep the celebration free from any controversy that might arise from the use of public funds.
Under the administration of former Mayor Benjamin Lim, the committee chairmen were granted annually a minimum of P3 million and a maximum of P 7 million seed money.
The city auditor already rendered the opinion that granting of the seed money was illegal and the situation was aggravated by the failure of the heads of the committees to fully liquidate the public funds they received.
FESTIVE
To get the ball rolling for this year’s fiesta, the committee already began solictiing sponsorships from individuals, corporations and multi-national companies operating in the city.
“Even with no government funds and austerity measures observed, we will make sure the fiesta will be festive,” Reyna said during the KBP Forum held at the Philippine Information Agency office Thursday.
Earnings from the fiesta will be used for the beautification of the city plaza and will be donated to the vicitms of Typhoon Yolanda. (PIA-Pangasinan/VHS)
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