By Xander Ledesma
The Antique Provincial Board has requested the Antique Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (APTCAO) to provide details on how the PHP26 million budget for the 50th Binirayan Festival will be utilized. The request was made through a resolution passed during the board’s regular session on Monday, emphasizing the need for transparency in the use of public funds.
Provincial Board Member Noel Alamis, who sponsored the resolution, stated that the provincial board must receive the program of work along with a corresponding purchase request (PR) before the festival’s official launch on December 2. This will allow for effective monitoring and evaluation of the allocation and expenditures associated with the event.
“The Sangguniang Panlalawigan must be provided with the Program of Works with corresponding PR details related to the Binirayan Festival 2024 to facilitate effective monitoring and evaluation of the allocation and expenditures,” the resolution stated.
The festival’s budget for this year marks a significant increase from the PHP13 million budget of last year’s event. Vice Governor Edgar Denosta, who authored the resolution, explained that the board approved the higher budget in recognition of the festival’s golden anniversary. He also emphasized that the Binirayan Festival serves as a venue for unity and cooperation among the people of Antique.
The festival will kick off on December 2 with a food festival and fireworks display at the Evelio B. Javier Tennis Court in San Jose de Buenavista. The event’s highlight will occur on December 16 with the reenactment of the historic arrival of the 10 Bornean chieftains, who became the first Malay settlers in Barangay Malandog, Hamtic.