ILOILO City – The provincial government of Iloilo will be shelling out P400 thousand financial assistance to the Iloilo City government’s staging of the Dinagyang Festival this month.
The two-day highlights of this year’s edition of Dinagyang are on Jan. 26 (Kasadyahan contest) and Jan. 27 (ati-ati tribes contest).
Last year, the provincial government also gave the city government a similar amount of financial assistance.
According to Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr., the monetary help is not affected by the reenacted 2018 budget. He considered it a necessary expense.
The province’s 2019 budget is yet to be approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
“Ever since pag-gobernador ko sang 1992 (until 2001) asta sa pagbalik ko sang 2010, we have consistently extended assistance to the city government. Our political opponents should not be an obstacle in our giving of assistance to the city government to ensure the success of Dinagyang,” said Defensor.
Dinagyang promotes not only Iloilo City but the province, too, he added.
Judging area No. 2 of contesting Kasadyahan and ati-ati tribes is located in front of the provincial capitol on Bonifacio Drive. The provincial government is managing the viewing stand each year.
“Ang Dinagyang nagadugang bulig sa kauswagan sa probinsya kag syudad sang Iloilo. So, punggan man sang Sangguniang Panlalawigan ang assistance ta?” said Defensor./PN
