Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella clarifies the roles of the Sinulog Governing Board and the Sinulog Foundation Inc. with regard to the holding of the Sinulog festival. | Irene R. Sino Cruz
CEBU CITY — The Sinulog Governing Board (SGB) and the Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) have complementary roles in the holding of the Sinulog Festival.
“The function of Sinulog Governing Board and the function of Sinulog Foundation Inc. are complementary,” Mayor Edgardo Labella said in a press conference Tuesday.
“No one is above the other,” the mayor added.
The mayor explained that the SGB would be in charge of peace and order, traffic and disaster preparedness.
Labella the SGB may take on other tasks upon agreement with the SFI.
READ: Sinulog Governing Board vs. Sinulog Foundation, who runs Sinulog?
Labella, who is the SGB chairman, made the clarification after a press statement issued by SGB, which promised a “well-coordinated installment of the festival as it carries “vital agencies under its wing.”
The press statement specified these agencies as SFI, Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Education (DepEd), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO).
The SGB statement also included the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Department of Health (DOH), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino as the agencies that they will be working with.
“SGB will serve as the regulatory board that will oversee SFI and its executive committee, and has the right to review and approve all resolutions and actions of the SFI’s executive committee,” said SGB statement.
The SGB statement also identified areas of the Sinulog festival which need to be improved.
These include the need to streamline mechanics of performances particularly the mardi gras, zone viewing decks and selling stalls to improve foot traffic, and create targeted side events to expand the festival’s entertainment factor.
The board also noted the need to create a revitalized image of the festival to provide renewed appeal to its target markets, identified as primarily 38-50 years old and, secondarily, 22-37 years old living in Manila, Cebu and its surrounding islands.
The board also wanted to target foreign markets such as Korea, China, and Japan.
Meanwhile, the SFI had posted an announcement on its Facebook page on Tuesday, November 12.
“The Sinulog Foundation is an independent non-government organization, which has successfully organized the Sinulog Festival for more than 30 years already,” the SFI said.
The SFI statement added that it would continue with its preparations as organizers of the Sinulog Festival 2020 with the Cebu City SGB chaired by the mayor, “coordinating, complementing and cooperating with the Sinulog Foundation.” /dbs