Celebration of Cebu’s 444th founding anniversary kicks off today with the traditional flag raising and the opening of the week-long agriculture fair.
But unlike previous founding anniversaries of the province, activities will be shorter and Capitol will spend less this time
Danilo Rodas, provincial budget officer said that budget for this year’s week-long anniversary is P1.73 million. Last year, the Capitol spent P17.5 million for the month-long anniversary celebration.
Aside from that, Gov. Hilario Davide III decided to scrap the Governor’s Ball and the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo, a dance competition that showcases Cebu’s festivals.
Based on the annual budget of the provincial government in 2012 under the administration of former governor Gwendolyn Garcia, the province allocated P15 million for Pasigarbo sa Sugbo.
Davide earlier described the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo and the Governor’s Ball as “too expensive” and “unnecessary” and said he wanted a “simple yet meaningful” celebration.
Agri Fair
Yesterday afternoon, local vendors and representatives from the towns and cities of the province already started setting up their booths at the Capitol compound for the Agro Fair opening today.
The booths made out of native and light materials were filled with each town’s food delicacies, aside from the fruits and vegetables from the towns’ of local produce.
The fair will mark the start of the province’s anniversary celebration together with the launch of Our Cebu program, a project between the province and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. set to develop each town and city to become an “attractive place to live, work, play and invest in.”
In the following days, various activities such as a bloodletting drive and free medical checkups will be held at the Capitol Social Hall.
The province will partner with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to provide free services such as body massage, haircut and cellphone repair for guests at the Capitol.
There are also events lined up for Capitol employees such as dancing and singing competitions and a raffle draw on August 6.
On August 7, the last day of the celebrations, the Gabii sa Sugbo will be held in the Capitol Social Hall where all the province’s mayors and Provincial Board members are expected to be in attendance.
The other events cancelled by Davide are the One Cebu Expo, meant to showcase Cebu’s finest products, services and culture and the Obra Negosyo Eskwela, a competition seen to mentor college students by teaming them up with local businesses.
The anniversary of the provincehood of Cebu is traced to the appointment by Spain’s King Philip II of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi as governor of Cebu on August 6, 1569.
A 1993 Provincial Board resolution set August 6 every year as the province’s foundation day. Republic Act 8952 declares August 6 a special non-working holiday in Cebu province including the highly urbanized cities of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu.