BONANZA Residents of Lamitan City in Basilan flock to the public plaza in front of City Hall on Wednesday to take a shot at the Christmas bonanza dangled by the local government, including 10 house-and-lot packages, every evening since Dec. 21. —PHOTO FROM ABANTE LAMITAN
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines — Amid an acute need for housing anywhere in the country today, some 100,000 residents of Lamitan City in Basilan province may just need luck to own a home.
The local government in Lamitan has been giving away 10 house-and-lot packages in nightly raffles since Dec. 21 and will continue to do so up to the end of the year to residents who visit the public plaza in front of City Hall where a festival of lights and Christmas symbols are hosted.
Already, Loryjane Santos, a resident of Barangay Colonia, brought home a key to a new house and lot during the Dec. 21 raffle, during which two 32-inch flat-screen TVs were also given away.
Joey Leonardo, the executive assistant to Mayor Roderick Furigay, said other prizes available were refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, ovens, air fryers, air pots, desk fans, rice cookers, and electric heaters.
The nightly raffles will last until Dec. 31, Leonardo added.
Leonardo assured that the housing unit at stake in the nightly raffle is a two-bedroom decent one and can accommodate a family of five.
The participants to the raffle are residents of communities screened by their respective barangay officials, said Leonardo.
The bonanza has driven many residents of Lamitan City to flock to the plaza to try their luck as well as marvel at the sights and activities lined up for a given night.
Giant Christmas symbols are lighted at nightfall and there are 3D presentations and dance competitions to while away the people’s time before the raffles begin.
On Dec. 23, two house-and-lot packages were to be drawn, to catch up with the nonholding of a raffle on Thursday.
Leonardo said the 10-day gift-giving spree for residents was done parallel to generous packages for local government employees who gave their best to deliver service to the people.
On Thursday, local government employees received P50,000 each in Collective Negotiation Agreement incentives, said Leonardo.