• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Bacolod City government will grant financial assistance of P14.3 million in total for barangays and schools participating in the arena and street dance, and electric MassKara competitions, which are highlight activities of the 46th MassKara Festival next month.
Financial assistance of P300,000 each will be received by barangays 2, 5, 12, 17, 19, 32, 33, 34, Cabug, Granada, and Mansilingan, for their participation in the electric MassKara on Oct. 17.
Seven schools, representing their districts in the Schools Division of Bacolod, will each receive P500,000 in assistance thru their respective principals. These include Andres Bonifacio Elementary School (District 1), Estefania ES (District 2), Asuncion Lizares ES (District 3), Paglaum Village ES (District 4), Rizal ES (District 5), Education and Training Center School 1 (District 6), and Rodolfo A. Medel Sr. (District 7).
The resumption, after five years, of the school category in the street-dance competition will take centerstage on Oct. 18, with participating schools expected to initially perform in the arena showdown at Paglaum Sports Complex, before the street-dancing all the way to the public plaza.
Barangays 6, 7, 11, 13, 21, 29, 39, Bata, Handumanan, and Tangub, meanwhile, will each get P750,000 in financial assistance from the city, for their participation in arena and dance competition on Oct. 19.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod already authorized Mayor Greg Gasataya Sept. 10 to sign the respective memorandum of agreement with DepEd Bacolod Schools Division superintendent Dennis Develos for the schools, and the concerned punong barangays, for the grant of financial assistance.
Under the MOA, liquidation and fund utilization reports, including all necessary documents in support of the disbursement and/or expenditures, shall be submitted to the city not later than 30 days “after receipt of the funds”.
This year’s festival, from Oct. 1 to 19, will be organized by the Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc., on the theme “One Smile, One City, One Heart”. | CGC
