MALACANANG yesterday urged people in the government to forego lavish Christmas parties this year and observe austerity amid the spate of typhoons that hit the country.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, in a statement, made the call after the appeal of President Marcos Jr. last Monday for everyone to think of those who were affected and suffered during the onslaught of severe tropical storm Kristine and typhoons Leon, Marce, Nika, Ofel, and Pepito this Christmas season.
“Hinihikayat namin ang lahat ng ahensya ng pamahalaan na iwasan ang mga marangyang pagdiriwang ngayong Pasko (we encourage all agencies of government to avoid lavish Christmas celebrations),” Bersamin said.
“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,” he added.
Bersamin said savings that would be generated from holding simpler parties could be donated to the communities affected by the series of 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 this season of joy,” he said.
“On the part of the government, we will make sure that the Christmas spirit will be felt early by all the affected areas in the form of relief goods and assistance, of infrastructure rebuilt, and of livelihoods restored,” he added.
The spate of typhoons that pummeled the Philippines has left billions of pesos in damage to agriculture and infrastructure.
