GOOD news to all Manila residents.
Mayor Honey Lacuna announced that the city government will begin distributing their Christmas gift boxes on December 1, all the way up to December 12, 2023.
The said gift boxes, she said, contains ‘Noche Buena’ items and will ensure that no family will go hungry on Christmas Day, as each household will be able to put something on their table to welcome the occasion, as is being done traditionally.
Lacuna also announced that the separate Christmas gifts for the city’s senior citizens, on the other hand, will be distributed city-wide from December 13 to 15, 2023. There are about 180,000 senior citizens in Manila.
While all the monthly financial aid for senior citizens, solo parents and persons with disabilities for the remaining months up to December will also be given beginning first week of December, Lacuna said that beginning next year, even those aged 18 and below who happen to be PWDs will now be included in the said benefits.
She said the inclusion of the said age group of PWDs in the monthly allowances being given by the local government is pursuant to an ordinance passed by the Manila City Council.
For this, the lady mayor acknowledged the efforts of Vice Mayor and Council Presiding Officer Yul Servo and the memebrs of the Manila City Council for having passed the ordinance without hitches.
It was learned from Manila social welfare chief Re Fugoso that the total gift boxes will be given to all families residing in the city and numbering 695,000 in all.
Fugoso said that each box contains spaghetti noodles and sauce, fruit cocktail, rice and all-purpose cream, among others.
Lacuna assured that all families will be covered, regardless of their status in life, since the city government of Manila follows a policy of inclusivity at all times.
