MANILA, Philippines — Expect no Christmas parties this year in Quezon City Hall offices and departments as Mayor Joy Belmonte has ordered them to cancel their celebrations and donate their party funds to indigent citizens. In a memorandum, Belmonte said it would be inappropriate for offices of the local government to hold Christmas parties while many citizens continue to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. ADVERTISEMENT“The money that would have been spent on office Christmas parties would do more good as donations to the underprivileged during this extraordinarily difficult time in our nation’s history,” Belmonte said. Belmonte also noted that all city hall offices and departments must adopt members of underprivileged sectors such as displaced workers and jeepney drivers. Belmonte further ordered Quezon City Hall offices and departments to donate the funds to the sectoral representative no later than December 23.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 29, 2020 07:52 UTC