Malacañang has directed government officials and employees to “scale down” their Christmas celebrations and instead donate to communities devastated by the successive typhoons that hit the country.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin called on all government agencies to avoid lavish celebrations this Christmas, in solidarity with the millions of Filipinos 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.”
He added there is no need to issue official guidance as the administration believes in the kindness of state workers in unilaterally adopting austerity in their celebrations. He also encouraged government offices to donate the savings they would earn from their scaled down celebrations to areas hit by the typhoons.
“The true spirit of Christmas implores us to celebrate with compassion, to share our blessings, and to spread cheer. As a people united by love for our fellow men, we can cast away bleakness as we celebrate in this season of joy,” Bersamin said.
Twenty cities and municipalities in Luzon were placed under a state of calamity due to tropical cyclones Nika, Ofel, and Pepito, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported. The three cyclones left damage to infrastructure and agriculture estimated at P469 million and P8.6 million, respectively.
Prior to the three weather disturbances, the country was also hit by tropical cyclones Kristine, Leon, and Marce.
The six successive typhoons that hit the country demonstrates the awesome power of nature, most likely exacerbated by the human activities that are a contributing factor to the global warming and climate change that can be blamed on the increased intensity of recent storms and weather disturbances.
As we do what we can to recover from these calamities, with the spirit of the Christmas season in mind, adjusting our celebrations so we can also help in our own way is certainly commendable. If our government officials and employees can show the way by making government funds reach more people, especially those in need, the public sector should have no problems following their lead.*
