Council asks city depts to consider cancelling parties

CEBU, Philippines - As a gesture of sympathy and sensitivity to typhoon-stricken areas, the city council yesterday passed a resolution for both legislative and executive departments to study the possibility of suspending Christmas parties for City Hall employees.

“Resolved, to respectfully request the executive and legislative departments of the Cebu City government to jointly study the possibility of cancelling the annual Christmas party amid the grief and suffering of the typhoon victims in the Visayas and to channel instead the allocated funds for further relief and rehabilitation efforts,” the resolution authored by Councilor Alvin Dizon read.

However, Councilor Sisinio Andales stressed that the most recent calamity that claimed lives of Visayans early this month must not stop the city government employees from celebrating the Christmas season.

“Life must go on. We cannot just cancel it. This is something employees look forward to. We just have to have it not as lavish as last year, perhaps, and hold it in a simple way,” Andales opined.

Councilor Margarita Osmeña, for her part, wants city employees to donate voluntarily, saying it would be better to “encourage them to give or adjust” the budget for the party.

After joining the city’s team for relief and clearing operations in Northern Cebu, Councilor  Gerardo Carillo suggested addressing the possible mendicancy by providing livelihood trainings to typhoon victims.

“While on our way to North Cebu, we saw people begging along the streets for food. I support the food for work kind of help,” Carillo said.

Rama said earlier he does not favor suspending the Christmas party even as he encouraged city employees to donate their salary for the month of November to typhoon victims.

Human Resources Development Office head Atty. Dominic Dino suggested, however, that it might be better to slash the meal allowance for both the Christmas party and sports fest instead of asking employees to give up their November pay.

Meanwhile, the council also passed a resolution authored by Councilor Nestor Archival requesting transport companies operating within Cebu City to allocate at least one vehicle and a driver to help transport relief goods to areas affected by the typhoon. — (FREEMAN)