Over 250 people receive gifts during ‘LAB for All’ in Mandaluyong

A resident at Jose Fabella Center in Mandaluyong City receives food packs handed out by Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Acting Chairman Romando Artes during the “LAB (Lingap at Alagang Bayanihan) for All: Christmas for All” gift-giving project on Monday. INQUIRER.net / Luisa K. Cabato

MANILA, Philippines — More than 250 homeless individuals received food packs and other assistance during the “LAB (Lingap at Alagang Bayanihan) for All: Christmas for All” gift-giving project held at the Jose Fabella Center in Mandaluyong City on Monday.

The event was attended by non-government organizations and key government officials.

“It is a whole-of-government approach with different government agencies working together with the First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos taking the lead and of course, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.,” said Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. in his opening remarks.

“This is not just a one-day project for Christmas but a continuous giving, loving, and sharing,” he added.

The 253 beneficiaries are temporarily seeking shelter at the center.

Aside from food, they will also be provided with health care, social services, and livelihood assistance, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Acting Chairman Romando Artes said.

Also present during the event were MMDA Metro Manila Council President and San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, MMDA Undersecretary Procopio Lipana, and MMDA Assistant General Manager for Operations David Angelo Vargas.

Department of Health-National Capital Region Regional Director Gloria Balboa, Metro Manila Mayors’ Spouses Foundation President Keri Zamora, and Assistant Secretary for Regional Operations Paul Ledesma also attended the event.

Among those who are living in the center for the time being is 53-year-old alias “Angel.”

Angel, together with her husband, daughter, and grandchild, was rescued by social workers through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Oplan Pag-Abot program.

According to her, their family used to sleep on the stairs of a grocery store in Malabon City before they were transferred to the center two months ago.

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“Pinapakain po kami. Tumutulong po kami sa gawaing bahay,” Angel told INQUIRER.net.

(We are fed. We help with the housework.)

“Mayroong medical assistance, pinag-aaral po sila [‘yung mga bata na nandito,” she added.

(There is medical assistance; they [the children who are here] are being sent to school.)

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Some of the projects under the “LAB for All” initiative are free laboratory testing, medical check-ups, family planning services, and free medicines.

Also included are tree-planting activities and coastal clean-up drives, among other services.