- CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Sangguniang Panlungsod has ratified this afternoon, Aug. 23, the memorandum of agreement between the city government and the Bacolod Yuhum Foundation Inc. as overall organizer anew of this year’s MassKara Festival celebration.
The MOA was signed by Mayor Alfredo Benitez and Katherine Matiling, the new president of the Yuhum Foundation, also the organizer of last year’s festivity, but with Atty. Pinky Mirano-Ocampo as head.
Benitez earlier admitted that the foundation logged a P6-million deficit, and that he had to shell out an amount in “eight figures” out of his own pocket to cover other expenses or obligations in last year’s MassKara.
The mayor had said he expects the new batch of foundation officials to strictly review last year’s activities, “be more prudent on their financial commitments, and ensure that we will have almost the same (MassKara) activities but need not be as expensive.”
Aside from Matiling, the other officers of the foundation, as per the city Public Information Office, are Kuster Cadagat as Board secretary, Jericho Redil, Board treasurer; and Patrick Lacson, Ma. Lourdes Socorro Montalvo, and Rodney Mitz Ascalon as members of the Board of Directors.
Under the MOA, the Foundation shall obtain sponsor participation in conjunction with efforts of the City, recommend and execute the activities to be included in the festival plan and budget, take charge of the rental fees to be collected for the festival vendors on approved areas/sites, ticket sales on any events, and shall account for the revenues it receives on behalf of the festival, and;
Submit liquidation and fund utilization reports, including all necessary documents in support of the disbursement and/or expenditures of funds provided, not later than 60 days after the end of the festival, among others.
The source of funds for the festival shall be taken from sponsors that the Foundation may obtain, the MOA said, adding the City may augment such funding, subject to applicable provisions of law. “All funds for the festival be duly accounted for, and any government funds must be duly accounted and liquidated, with any unused public funds returned or refunded pursuant to applicable laws”.
The 44th edition of the world-renowned MassKara Festival will be from Oct. 6 to 22 this year./CGC
