MANILA – Malacañang advised government agencies to “scale down” Christmas celebrations to save funds for the Philippines’ 6 typhoon victims in less than a month.
While the decision is consistent with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for simpler Christmas celebrations this year, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin stated that the Palace will refrain from releasing an official document outlining 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,” stated Bersamin in a press release.
He added that official written guidance need no longer be issued because they believe in the kindness of their fellow government workers, whom they fully trust can unilaterally adopt austerity in their celebrations.
“We urge them as well that whatever savings they realize from scaled-down celebrations be donated to our calamity-hit communities,” continued the politician.
Despite the push to limit taxpayer-funded spending, Bersamin stated that the government “will make sure that the Christmas spirit will be felt early by all the affected areas,” which would be accomplished through the distribution of relief goods and assistance, as well as the restoration of typhoon-damaged 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 stated.
“The celebration of Christmas is still going on, together with our countrymen who have been devastated by a series of calamities,” he concluded.
From October to early November, six typhoons caused devastation across the Philippines, destroying thousands of homes and inflicting millions of dollars in damages to crops and infrastructure.