City council wants christmas party funds used for relief aid

THE Cebu City Council has approved a resolution to reallocate funds for City Hall’s Christmas party as relief assistance to the typhoon victims in northern Cebu and Eastern Visayas.

Councilor Margot Osmeña, who chairs the budget committee, however, said the resolution should not stop City Hall employees from holding parties.

Councilor Sisinio Andales agreed, saying the Christmas party should still continue in a “simple way.” “Although the intention (of the resolution) is good, we can’t cancel the spirit of Christmas. Life must go on. City Hall employees are looking forward to it although it should not be so lavish,” he said.

Osmeña said employees should instead be encouraged to donate part of their meals allocation to the relief efforts. Each of the 4,066 employees has a P500 allotment for meals on two events – the Cebu City Olympics and the Christmas Party. The full amount would reach at least P2 million.

Other councilors, who said they’ve personally visited typhoon-hit towns in northern Cebu, also said the victims should start working and not rely on relief operations. “If you continue to give them (relief goods), you’re promoting mendicancy. It’s not healthy to just give to them,” Councilor Gerry Carillo said.

Councilor Michael Ralota said victims should turn tragedy into opportunity to generate money. He suggested that victims be made to cut toppled trees and turn them into charcoa. “We should teach them how to fish instead of just giving them fish,” Ralota said.

Mayor Michael Rama earlier said the Christmas party should still push through though it won’t be lavish and extravagant.“The ball is now in the hands of the mayor if he’ll suspend it or not. It’s my prayer that we also follow what other cities have done. We should be in solidarity with the typhoon victims. It’s not appropriate to party at this time,” Dizon said.

Dizon cited the cities of Makati, Davao and Talisay that canceled their respective Christmas parties to further help and comfort the typhoon victims.

The City Council also approved a resolution to request more transportation for relief goods in typhoon-affected areas. /Correspondent Jose Santino S. Bunachita