Cebu City has set aside up to P1 million in public funds to reimburse expenses from a Rotary District 3860 conference held in May, prompting questions from city councilors over the lack of clear guidelines for providing financial assistance to nongovernment organizations.
The proposed reimbursement covers expenses related to the Rotary District 3860 District Conference 2026, which was held from May 29 to 31 at Nustar Resort Cebu. The funding would be charged to the City Sponsored Activities–Other Activities account under the Office of the Mayor.
City records show that the P1 million appropriation was certified as available by the City Budget Office on July 3. The City Treasurer’s Office issued a separate Certificate of Availability of Funds on August 7.
The proposed assistance was described in city documents as “Financial Assistance to Rotary District 3860.” However, the documents did not provide a detailed breakdown of the expenses to be reimbursed.
During the City Council’s discussion, Councilor Harold Go questioned the absence of definitive standards for determining which organizations qualify for financial assistance and how much support they may receive.
Go asked whether the same assistance would be available to other nongovernment and civic organizations. He also sought data showing the public benefit generated by the Rotary conference.
Councilor Philip Zafra acknowledged that there was currently no definitive guideline governing the use of the fund. He said the Executive Department, through the Office of the Mayor, determines subsidies based on its recommendations and approval.
Councilor Nyza Archival, who sponsored the resolution, defended the assistance by pointing to Rotary’s longstanding partnership with Cebu. She cited the organization’s involvement in projects involving public schools, libraries, communities, emergency response and health institutions.
The discussion also prompted calls for clearer criteria for organizations seeking city assistance. Association of Barangay Councils President Franklyn Ong supported the creation of formal standards, while Zafra said guidelines could be established through an ordinance or incorporated into an annual budget ordinance.
City officials also clarified that the approved P1 million does not automatically mean Rotary will receive the entire amount. The reimbursement remains subject to City Hall’s accounting and processing requirements, with only eligible expenses qualifying for payment.
The council’s action therefore authorizes the funding charge, while the final amount to be reimbursed will depend on the expenses that pass the required review and liquidation process.
The debate has raised broader questions about how Cebu City allocates public funds for activities involving nongovernment organizations and whether standardized criteria should be established to ensure that similar requests are assessed under the same rules.
