Governor Pamela Baricuatro confirmed during a press conference on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, that the upcoming Festival of Festivals will have limitations. Only 15 contingents will be allowed to compete on the grand stage.
The governor also announced that the festival budget for this year is only P20 million.
The limited slots for the major cultural showcase will be distributed to component cities and municipalities of Cebu on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the governor.
“This is not Pasigarbo; they don’t need to start from scratch,” Baricuatro said when asked about concerns that the P1 million subsidy might not be enough to stage a festival performance.
The governor directly dismissed comparisons to another major cultural tournament in the province.
The grand ritual showdown is officially scheduled to take place at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) as part of the celebration of the upcoming Founding Anniversary of the Province.
Importantly, Governor Baricuatro noted that if the number of officially recorded contingents does not reach the required 15-slot limit, the Festival of Festivals will not push through at all.
To ease the financial burden on participating local government units (LGUs), Baricuatro revealed a significant financial assistance package.
The 15 successful contingents will each receive a P1 million subsidy to fund their operational expenses. Due to rising sea transport costs, the Capitol will increase the subsidy to P1.5 million for island contingents from Bantayan or Camotes if they qualify and decide to join.
Under the official festival rules, each contingent must maintain a small delegation of 60 to 100 participants.
A report from Sunstar on June 9, 2026, indicated a major policy shift and a clear name change from the large and grand Pasigarbo sa Sugbo, which was first launched in 2008.
The idea gained support on June 1, 2026, during an online debate on the “Cebu Festivals” Facebook page. In response to public sentiment that tourism and healthcare could coexist, Baricuatro proposed an exclusive showcase of existing festival winners to keep the event within budget and avoid extending past midnight.
The previous administration spent P255 million on the 2024 edition of Pasigarbo, including over P200 million in preparation subsidies and an additional P55 million just for major cash prizes.
The selection of CCSC marks the return of a major provincial cultural festival to the grandstand stage, after tight coordination regarding space shortages and logistical preparations. Due to the strict 15-contingent limit, component LGUs are expected to rush their official registration with the Capitol as soon as possible to avoid being shut out of the competition. / Zandy Oyao, CNU Intern
