FOR the second year, the traditional Christmas gift-giving at the Duterte residence in Davao City on Christmas Day will not be happening despite the continuing downtrend of Covid-19 cases in the city.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said in an interview on Monday, November 29, that their family had not prepared any activities for the annual gift-giving tradition.
"Wala po'y December 25 na activity didto sa (We don’t have any activity this December 25 at) Taal [Road, Central Park Subdivision, at Bangkal, Brgy Talomo] house because we want to avoid mass gathering, and we do not want to be the reason kung ngano naay (why there would be) mass gathering," the mayor said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
The gift-giving activity had started during the time of then Davao City mayor and now President Rodrigo Duterte where thousands of residents flock to the first family’s ancestral residence to receive grocery packs.
This was temporarily stopped last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
She said a few days before Christmas, a tarpaulin will be mounted a few meters away from their residence, informing the public that the activity will not be happening. Security personnel will also be deployed in the area to prohibit anyone from entering.
The City Government, however, conducted its traditional gift-giving last year but the goods were distributed house-to-house to selected beneficiaries.
Duterte-Carpio, meanwhile, reiterated her call to avoid mass gatherings especially this Holiday season to avoid causing transmission of the Covid-19 virus.
If ever they would still push through with it, she said they must conduct it in an open space area.