Last-minute gifts for Cebu’s kids, seniors

CHILDREN, senior citizens and barangay officials were the recipients of last-minute generosity from Metro Cebu local governments ahead of today’s annual Christmas celebration.

In Mandaue City, a Mandaue I-Kids Party and Summit Year V was held for indigent children by the Mandaue City Council for the Protection of Children (MCCPC) at the Mandaue City Sports Center.

Among the recipients was 10-year-old Anthony Pacana, a Grade 3 student of Maguikay Elementary School.

The activity which drew 650 indigent children from the city’s 27 barangays was done in cooperation with the Kaabag Mandaue Inc.

The program started with a mass followed by a program sponsored by Jollibee in barangay Centro.

“I’m happy I received a lot of gifts so I can give some to my siblings,” Pacana said.

Last November, the Kaabag foundation organized a horror booth in the sports complex which sold 25,000 tickets and raised P700,000 in funds.

Their P269,000 net income was spent for the I-kids Christmas party.

In Lapu-Lapu City, nearly 13,000 senior citizens received their Christmas cash gifts and several kilos of rice yesterday at the Hoopsdome.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza asked city residents to pray for those who perished in the onslaught of tropical storm “Sendong” and to do their part in protecting the country’s environment.

In Cebu City, barangay officials received their accumulated cash allowances ranging from P3,000 to P5,000 per month that were computed since September.

Mayor Michael Rama promised P5,000 allowance each for the 80 barangay captains and P3,000 each for the councilors and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) presidents.

Rama said until they get clearance from the Commission on Audit (COA), they will only issue the allowances retroactive from September this year.

The City Council passed a P28 million appropriation for the allowances under Supplemental Budget 2.

Among the recipients were Sta. Cruz barangay captain Jerome Lim, who said he will use the money for his family’s Christmas feast.

“I wanted to spend this for my family because I already spent on others,” he said.

Lim said he would also share part of his cash allowance as donation for the survivors of tropical storm “Sendong” in northern Mindanao and Negros Oriental.

He said he organized a Christmas party for barangay workers, senior citizens and selected constituents last Thursday prior to receiving his allowances.

Lim said he made sure that no one went home empty handed. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac, Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos and Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza