BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) committee on tourism is pushing to double the budget being provided by the city government to Bacolaodiat Inc., the organizer of the Bacolaodiat Festival.
An increased P10 million budget is seen to ensure bigger and grander celebrations.
“Subong isa lang ang festival site ta, hopefully by next year madako na like sa MassKara [Festival] may Lacson [Tourism Strip] may ara man sa NGC (New Government Center or Bacolod City Government Center),” said committee chairperson Councilor Jason Villarosa.
The highlights of this year’s celebration, which began on Feb. 9, were held along Lacson Street and lasted until Sunday, Feb. 11.
To increase the budget, the city has to either amend City Ordinance 426, Series of 2007, or make a request to the City Mayor’s Office.
“Knowing Mayor Albee (Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez), he really wants to promote ang aton tourism and hopefully dugangan nya ang budget to P10 million,” the councilor stressed.
In 2023, the city provided P3 million, which reportedly resulted in a budget deficit on the part of the organizer.
“Subong nga P5 million, nagmuno si Stephen Sy, the festival chairman, nga iyawan sila pa-igo sang budget,” the councilor added.
The Chinese New Year festivities symbolize the convergence of Bacolod’s Filipino-Chinese community./PN
