Palace to gov’t agencies: ‘Scale down’ Christmas parties

AS six typhoons battered parts of the Philippines in less than a month, affecting millions and millions of Filipinos, Malacañang has urged government agencies to “scale down” Christmas parties and instead save funds for victims.

The call is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s push in having simple Christmas celebrations this year.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said that the Palace will no longer release a formal document regarding this policy.

“This call is in solidarity with the millions of our countrymen who continue to grieve over lives, homes and  livelihoods lost during the six typhoons that pummeled us in a span of less than a month,” Bersamin said in a statement.

“An official guidance in writing need no longer be issued because we believe in the kindness of our fellow government workers, whom we fully trust can unilaterally adopt austerity in their celebrations,” he said.

“We urge them as well that whatever savings they realize from scaled-down celebrations be donated to our calamity-hit communities,” he added.

Bersamin noted that despite the push to limit expenditures using taxpayers’ money, they will make sure that “the Christmas spirit will be felt early by all the affected areas.”

He added that it would be done through the distribution of relief goods and assistance, and the restoration of typhoon-hit infrastructure and livelihood.

“The true spirit of Christmas implores us to celebrate with compassion, to share our blessings, and to spread cheer,” the Executive Secretary said.

“Tuloy pa rin ang pagdiriwang ng Pasko, kasama ang ating mga kababayang nasalanta ng mga sunod-sunod na kalamidad,” he said.

A total of six typhoons affected the Philippines between October and early November. 

It left thousands of homes destroyed and millions-worth of crops and infrastructure damaged.