Friday, December 22, 2006 5,000 families to get Christmas gifts By Victor L. Camion
AT LEAST 5,000 families, considered among poorest of the poor residents in Dumaguete City, will receive Christmas gifts from the City Government.
Mayor Agustin Perdices alongside city social welfare officer Marina Mendoza will lead city officials in handing over gift packs to families on December 21.
Family-representatives are expected to arrive as early as 6 a.m. to be ahead on the line at the city's public market.
Each gift pack includes rice, mongo, sugar, salt, milk, noodles, and sardines.
City Administrator Dominador Dumalag Jr. said the recipients were selected by City Social Welfare and Development Office in cooperation with barangay nutrition scholars and barangay officials.
To qualify, each family must have at least six members and living below poverty lines set by the National Economic and Development Authority.
The Christmas gift-giving program started in 1988 with 1,000 poor families.
Perdices said the number of recipients will be based on the money collected by the City Government.
Dumalag said this year the City Government has allotted more than P200,000 to buy 300 bags of rice, boxes of sardines, noodles, among others.
But he clarified that the amount is coming from the donations of several businessmen in the city.
Meanwhile, 3,000 children belonging to indigent families, except the Badjaos, will enjoy the Christmas party set by the City Government of Dumaguete.
The party called "share-a-meal" will be held at the City Quadrangle at around 3 p.m. Thursday.
