EDUCATION Secretary Sonny Angara yesterday directed all DepEd offices and schools nationwide to scale down their Christmas celebrations in sympathy with the victims of successive typhoons that hit the country this year.
Angara issued the memorandum after Malacanang urged government offices to refrain from holding lavish Christmas celebrations last Tuesday.
“In this regard, all DepEd offices and schools are instructed to scale down their Christmas celebrations, and may utilize the resulting savings as donations for calamity-hit communities,” Angara said.
“Regional and Division Offices shall ensure compliance with the Presidential Directive, and initiate donation drivers for affected areas,” he added.
He said this is in “solidarity with the millions of our countrymen who continue to grieve over lives, homes and livelihood lost during the six typhoons that pummeled us in less than a month.”
Last Monday, President Marcos Jr. called on Filipinos to remember the survivors of the typhoons that hit the country in rapid succession, especially over the last four weeks.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council earlier said typhoons Nika, Ofel and Pepito displaced more than 600, 000 people and damaged around P500 million worth of infrastructure and agriculture.
In a statement, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said: “In line with the call of our President, we encourage all government agencies to avoid lavish celebrations this Christmas.”
THE PNP said there would be no lavish Christmas celebration in the police force, heeding the call of Malacanang for all government agencies to scale down Christmas parties.
PNP director for police-community relations Maj. Gen. Roderick Alba said the PNP has given instructions to avoid “lavish preparations” during the Christmas season.
Alba said the PNP will instead focus on helping those affected by recent tropical storms.
He said the PNP is in a situation where Christmas celebrations are “not a priority.”
“The instruction is very clear: not too much spending for the celebration of Christmas,” said Alba.
Alba said a simple salu-salo or gathering is encouraged to celebrate Christmas. – With Victor Reyes
