CEBU, Philippines – Mandaue City government employees will hold their Christmas party on December 17 but Mayor Jonas Cortes have told department heads to remind subordinates to refrain from soliciting anything for the gathering.
The same order will also be imposed on all public schools in both the elementary and secondary schools in the city in consonance with the DepEd's memorandum that teachers are not allowed to solicit for their own Christmas parties and the parties for their students.
Louella Cabanero, the head of the city tourism office, yesterday said the city government will spend P800 thousand for the party for the almost 5,000 employees, including job orders and the Clean and Green personnel.
Cabanero also said the city has allotted P160 for the food for each employee and there's no reason for the employees to solicit.
Cabanero said all employees will gather at the city hall's quadrangle for the party.
Engineer Henry Ceniza, the deputy chief of the Department of General Services said his department is discouraging its garbage collectors from soliciting funds for their Christmas parties. He said they may accept gifts in the spirit of the yuletide season, but soliciting will not be tolerated.
He discourages public and private establishments from giving money at this time because the employees are already receiving their salaries and bonuses.
Ceniza even urged complainants to report garbage collectors who solicit.
Belen Zanoria, a Dep- Ed official yesterday said her department is observing austerity measures as per order of the DepEd. (FREEMAN)