Preparations for this year’s Buglasan Festival of Festivals is in high gear with assurance of support from most, if not all, of the local chief executives in Negros Oriental.{{more}}
This developed as various concerns were raised by the mayors during their regular meeting Wednesday, attended by Gov. Agustin Perdices and the Buglasan directorate, represented by Glynda Descuatan and Nick Elman.
These concerns include the mobility of participants, especially the mayors who claimed that their vehicle passes are not honored by traffic enforcers, aside from the very crowded Sidlakan area.
The mayors are also apprehensive about spending funds for Buglasan activities due to auditing problems. Most of the time, the mayors have to dip from their own pockets.
Meantime, it was learned that the mayors had been receiving P25,000 each from the provincial government since the inception of the Buglasan festival to defray additional expenses that will be incurred by them.
It was not immediately known if the same is being receipted or had been subjected to COA auditing procedures.
For this, the mayors are asking Gov. Perdices not to break the tradition, which the latter had promised to look into.
Scarcity of funds is the major reason for non-participation of some municipalities in the festival showdown.
Last year, 13 LGUs participated in the showdown, and this year, seven have so far committed to participate, namely, Dumaguete, Jimalalud, Zamboanguita, Bayawan, Mabinay, Sibulan, Pamplona, with a subsidy of P50,000 each. All the other LGUs have committed to participate in other Buglasan festivities.
Elman, co-director of the Buglasan directorate, said Buglasan festivities officially start on October 14 and ends with a fireworks display on the 24th and the “Kasikas sa Kalye,” where local bands are assigned in different areas of the city.
The idea is to disperse the activities throughout the city, not just the Sidlakan area.
Meanwhile, the Negros Oriental Negrense Awards will continue, but Gov. Perdices wanted another category that is intended to give recognition to the rank and file.
Dubbed as the Negros Oriental Service Awards, Elman said this will give due recognition to farmers, fisherfolks, janitors, waiters, waitresses, who have excelled in their respective brand of work. (PNA/JG)
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