LP gives Christmas baskets to the needy

Some 7,000 indigent families and senior citizens were given bags of grocery items as Christmas gifts from Mayor Vergel Aguilar and his wife, former mayor Mel Aguilar together with city officials yesterday at Verdant Covered Court in Barangay Pamplona Tres.

The giving out of Noche Buena package to the city’s less privileged is a tradition kept by Mayor Vergel “Nene” Aguilar and his family over the years “to ensure our fellow Las Piñeros would have food on their table to celebrate Christmas”.

Mayor Aguilar downplayed the havocs caused by typhoons that hit the country the past months saying these should stop them from keeping the gift-giving tradition since the people deserve to have something this Yuletide season.

“A bag of grocery items for each family of the needy and the elderly, although modest, could provide relief to our less fortunate kababayan that would allow them to enjoy the Christmas celebration,” Aguilar said.

The city’s social welfare department and office of the senior citizen were responsible for the distribution of Christmas baskets to beneficiaries coming from 20 barangays.

Late last month, bonuses and cash gifts due to city hall employees and workers were released on orders of Aguilar in order for them to cope with the expenses during the holiday season. These benefits include the 13th month pay, cash gift, productivity bonus, monetization and other allowances.