CHRISTMAS came early for the wards in the Manila city government-run Boys’ Town Complex in Marikina, after no less than President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. and Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna handed Christmas gifts to them on Monday.
The activity came following the recent distribution of assistance to the more than 2,000 families who were rendered homeless by fire in Isla Puting Bato in Tondo.
Some 4,000 packages were given to the wards and even to students and employees at the Valeriano E. Fugoso Memorial School which is located within the Boys’ Town complex. Of the number, 166 are kids, boys and girls while 415 are senior citizens.
Manila Department of Social Welfare head Re Fugoso, under whose functions the operations of the said complex falls, said that the wards comprising of homeless children and elderly, all received gifts, food and medicine.
Lacuna in her speech, thanked President Marcos for his unwavering support to the city of Manila, saying such is a big boost to her city administration which is operating under a P17.8 billion debt left behind by her predecessor.
She also announced plans regarding renovations needed for the said complex to make them more conducive for its wards.
Also present in the affair were Vice Mayor Yul Servo, Marikina Mayor Marcy Teodoro and Marikina Congresswoman Stella Quimbo who joined Mayor Lacuna in welcoming the President and in the distribution of the Christmas gifts from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, whose head, Sec. Rex Gatchalian, also assisted.
Originally a facility for Manila youth needing care, Boystown grew into a care facility also for children, the elderly, persons with disability, and persons entrusted to the city’s custody for eventual reintegration into society.
