‘Ham for the Poor’ in Navotas

Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco has directed the Municipal Welfare and Development Office to lead in this year’s "Ham for the Poor" project that will benefit some 8,000 indigent families.

Tiangco said the local government has allotted P1 million for the project, part of its "Share-a-Blessing" program this Christmas.

The distribution, which has become a tradition since it was started three years ago, will be conducted on Dec. 21 at the Navotas Sports Complex.

Tiangco said tickets will be distributed to the families after a thorough screening and in coordination with barangay officials.

"Our programs are concentrated under the theme ‘Makinang na Pasko Tungo sa Sentenaryo.’ We have included the ‘Ham for the Poor’ as part of all this because we believe that giving and sharing is the real spirit of Christmas," Navotas social welfare chief Pat Agcaoili said.

Navotas will celebrate its 100th founding anniversary in February 2006.

This early, Tiangco also reiterated an admonition to all municipal officials and employees to refrain asking for any solicitation, in cash or in kind, from the public they serve particularly this holiday season.

"We want everybody to feel the spirit of Christmas. But this season should not be exploited to harass the public we serve in exchange for real fast and efficient service. Despite the hardships, there are still many good reasons to thank the Lord for and to hope for a happy new year," Tiangco said. – Jerry Botial