Mayor cancels Christmas parties in quake-hit Kidapawan

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines—Mayor Joseph Evangelista on Saturday ordered the cancellation of all Christmas parties of the city government and its different departments while Kidapawan is still recovering from the impact of the recent earthquakes. Evangelista issued Memorandum No. 3717 directing all deparment heads of the city government to cancel all Christmas parties, celebrations and Christmas holiday events to show empathy and solidarity with quake victims as the city rebuilds houses and and other structures damaged by the series of temblors that jolted Cotabato province last month. Evangelista urged city government employees to help victims, especially those rendered homeless. Most city department offices have been moved out of the four-story Kidapawan City Hall due to possibility of collapse during aftershocks.—EDWIN FERNANDEZ