Funding all the way

Government departments collectively disbursed at least MOP66.99 million (US$8.37 million) in subsidies during the first quarter of the year, of which the majority were granted by the Sports Bureau, at MOP52.21 million, according to Business Daily’s calculations based upon yesterday’s Official Gazette.
According to a dispatch from the Sports Bureau, Macau China Dragon Boat Association was the biggest beneficiary during the quarter, which received subsidies of MOP8.18 million in total from the department. In particular, some MOP3.88 million was granted to the Association for hosting this year’s Macao International Dragon Boat Races whilst another MOP2.45 million and MOP1.24 million were approved for subsidising elite athletes and the group’s training team, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Health Bureau rolled out subsidies totalling MOP11.96 million (US$1.49 million) in the same period, of which some MOP5.75 million went to Macau Tung Sin Tong Charitable Society for its outpatient and dentistry services. In addition, Macau Federation of Trade Unions (FOAM) and Macau Red Cross both received over MOP1 million from the Bureau.
Meanwhile, the city’s Cultural Fund approved MOP2.57 million-worth of subsidies to a total of 89 beneficiaries in the three months. Praiagrande Edições, Limitada, a media group which held the The Script Road – Macau Literary Festival, was the biggest beneficiary of the Fund in the period, having been granted MOP500,000-worth of subsidies for its event.
The city’s Tourism Fund disbursed MOP254,000-worth of aid to some 16 associations in the first quarter of this year. Of the total, MOP100,000 was given to Macao Association of the Thirteen Hongs for Culture and Trade Promotion for the International Kids Super Model Contest held by the group.