President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has called on government agencies to tone down their Christmas celebrations as the country grapples with the aftermath of six consecutive typhoons in less than a month.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin relayed Marcos’ appeal in a statement posted on Facebook on November 19, emphasizing solidarity with the millions affected by the severe storms. “We encourage all government agencies to avoid lavish festivities this Christmas in support of those mourning the loss of lives, homes, and livelihoods,” Bersamin stated.
Bersamin underscored that an official written directive is unnecessary, expressing confidence in the innate compassion of government employees to voluntarily adopt simpler celebrations. He also urged agencies to redirect any savings from scaled-back events to assist communities recovering from the calamities.
“The true spirit of Christmas calls us to celebrate with empathy, share our blessings, and spread joy,” Bersamin added, affirming that relief efforts and rebuilding measures are ongoing to ensure the Christmas spirit reaches affected areas through aid and support.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that the last three storms—Nika, Ofel, and Pepito—displaced over 617,000 people and impacted 1.8 million individuals. Damage estimates to infrastructure exceeded P469 million, while agricultural losses were assessed at P8.6 million.
Despite the devastation, Bersamin affirmed, “Christmas will still be celebrated, together with our countrymen who have been affected by the series of calamities.”
