The city government here has allocated PHP39.18 million for the staging of the 2026 Dinagyang Festival.

“More than half will go to subsidy, especially every year, we increase our subsidy for tribes,” Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. executive director Joyce Clavecillas said in an interview on Friday.

She said the subsidy for each of the seven participating tribes will be PHP2.3 million, up from this year’s PHP1.8 million.

“This is the first time that we have breached the PHP2 million mark for the main tribes,” Clavecillas said.

The foundation has released a portion of the subsidy, but they hope to add more this month.

The official contingents for the Dinagyang Tribes Competition were introduced during the grand launch last month.

They are Tribu Taga-Baryo of Barangay Barrio Obrero, Lapuz; Tribu Ilonganon, Jalandoni Memorial High School; Tribu Bulawanon sang Molo, Molo District; Tribu Salognon, Jaro National High School; Tribu Paghidaet, La Paz National High School; Tribu Pan-ay, Fort San Pedro National High School; and Tribu Ilayanhon of Graciano Lopez Jaena Elementary School.

Meanwhile, participants for the Sadsad sa Calle Real will receive PHP700,000.

The participating groups for the Sadsad – a community-based street dancing showcase that celebrates Iloilo’s living heritage and grassroots creativity – are Tribu Parianon, Tribu Yrong-Yrong, Tribu Aninipay, Tribu Familia Sagasa, Tribu Molave, and Tribu Panaad.

Clavecillas said the remaining amount would be for cash prizes and logistical requirements of the event.

They will also try to raise funds to cover other expenses, she said.

“That has always been the practice. If the city has an allocation, we need to also have a counterpart sponsorship from private partners,” she said.

Meanwhile, they hoped to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the city government and the San Jose Placer, relative to the holding of the festival in 2026 and the allocation for the local government before the year ends.

On Wednesday, the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) referred the request for an authority to sign the MOA to the Committee on Ways and Means for appropriate action. (PNA)