Iloilo City ups Dinagyang win with school projects

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

In addition to a PHP 1.5 million cash prize, the school represented by the champion tribe in this year’s Dinagyang competition will receive infrastructure support from the Iloilo City government, Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu announced Monday, Jan. 19.

Treñas-Chu said the PHP 1.5 million prize for the competition winner was sourced from the city government’s allocation in support of the Dinagyang Festival.

She said festival organizers had requested an increase in the cash prize, but due to the city’s limited resources amid multiple festival-related events, the city opted to provide additional incentives through infrastructure assistance.

“[Festival organizers] asked for an increase but with many events, what I pledged, in line with the [money] winnings, are infra projects for the schools,” Treñas-Chu said during her regular briefing Monday.

The mayor said there is no fixed ceiling yet for the cost of the infrastructure projects, although discussions have leaned toward matching the PHP 1.5 million cash prize.

She said the infrastructure support will be funded through the Iloilo City government’s Special Education Fund.

Under Section 235 of Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, the Special Education Fund is derived from a 1% additional tax on the assessed value of real property.

Section 272 of the same law mandates that revenues collected for the fund and included in the budget be released to local school boards.

The law further limits the use of the Special Education Fund to the operation and maintenance of public schools, construction and repair of school buildings and facilities, procurement of equipment, educational research, purchase of books and periodicals, and sports development.

Five of the seven competing Dinagyang tribes represent public schools: Tribu Ilonganon of Jalandoni Memorial National High School in Lapuz, Salognon of Jaro National High School, Ilayanhon of Graciano Lopez Jaena Elementary School, Pan-ay of Fort San Pedro National High School, and Paghidaet of La Paz National High School.

The two remaining tribes, Bulawanon sang Molo and Taga Baryo, represent the Molo district and Barangay Bo. Obrero in Lapuz, respectively.