Mayor assures support for Basakanon in Aliwan Festival

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama may have to look for other fund sources to send the Lumad Basakanon dance troup to compete in the Aliwan Festival in Manila.

He said he may use his  discretionary fund or   explore private sector sponsorship for the Lumad Basakanon of barangay Basak San Nicolas to represent the city in the Aliwan Festival.

“If there is no politics involved, we can have several sources of funds,” Rama said.

The City Council is studying a proposal by Councilor Jose Daluz III to allocate P 3 million from the  city’s share of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) funds to send the  Cebu City contingent which won second place in the Sinulog 2013 free interpretation competition last January.

The Council  deferred action, saying it had to check if the outlay is allowed under the rules on the use of Pagcor funds.

The  Aliwan Festival is set  on April 11 to 13.

Lumad Basakanon brought honor to the city when it  won the championship of the Aliwan Festival in 2006, 2007 and 2008. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac