Palace to govt agencies: No grand christmas celebrations
Metro Manila, Philippines – The Malacañan Palace has discouraged government agencies from holding grand christmas celebrations in solidarity with victims of consecutive cyclones.
In a statement on Tuesday, Nov. 19, the Palace urged government workers to instead donate their savings from “scaled-down” holiday celebrations to millions of disaster-stricken Filipinos.
Malacañang said an official directive will no longer be issued as they trust government employees would heed the call.
“The true spirit of Christmas implores us to celebrate with compassion, to share our blessings, and to spread cheer,” Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said in a statement.
The Palace also vowed to provide relief goods and livelihood assistance to calamity victims.
As of Nov. 19, 8 a.m., government data show around 1.8 million people have been affected by recent cyclones.
Four storms had battered the country in the last two weeks, a phenomenon that experts described as unusual. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, however, said these weather events are not odd.