Aquino to join Pagcor’s Christmas celebration for street sweepers

President Benigno Aquino III

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III will join the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation’s (Pagcor) grand Christmas celebration for 1,955 street sweepers this Monday  at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

The street sweepers from the cities of Manila, Parañaque and Pasay were Pagcor’s beneficiaries on the 11^th day of its “Bayanihan: Pamaskong Handog ng PAGCOR 2012”.

Pagcor allocated over P2.8 million for the purchase of “noche buena” gift packs to the beneficiaries.

It was the first time that the agency hosted such a grand Christmas party for the street sweepers, Pagcor chairman and chief executive officer Cristino L. Naguiat, Jr. said in a statement.

“Ang mga street sweepers ang nagpapanatili ng kalinisan sa maraming bahagi ng Metro Manila. Masaya kami sa Pagcor dahil ngayong panahon ng Kapaskuhan, nabigyan kami ng pagkakataon na sila’y bigyang pugay sa kanilang mga sakripisyo. Ito ang unang pagkakataon na makakasama natin sila sa pagdiriwang ng Pasko,” Naguiat said.

Aquino’s presence, Naguiat said, made the event more relevant for Metro Manila’s street sweepers.

“We are thankful that the President has been very supportive of Pagcor’s annual gift-giving tradition. Since we launched the Pamaskong Handog project in 2010, he always had time to join us in spreading Christmas cheer to the marginalized sectors and less privileged Filipinos,” said Naguiat.

Colonel Carlos Baltazar, Department of Public Safety chief of Manila, said the government recognized the efforts of street sweepers, saying it always finds ways to uplift their living conditions.

He cited for instance the accident insurance being provided since street sweepers are exposed to road and environmental hazards.

“Bukod dito nagkakaloob din ang Manila City government ng scholarship para sa mga street sweepers na gustong makapagtapos ng kolehiyo at makakuha ng magandang trabaho,” Baltazar said.

He said he was grateful that the Manila’s street sweepers together with those from the cities of Pasay and Paranaque were chosen as beneficiaries of Pagcor’s gift-giving project.

“Ang mga street sweepers po ay nabibilang sa pinakamaliit na sector ng lingkod-bayan kaya’t marapat lang na sila’y mabigyan ng kasiyahan sa darating na Kapaskuhan. Maraming salamat sa Pagcor sa pagkilala sa dakilang gawain ng mga taong ito,” he added.

The street sweepers of Manila are under the supervision of the city government’s Department of Public Services, while those in Pasay and Paranaque are under their cities’ Waste Management Units.

Majority of them are in their late 30’s or early 40’s, with some past their fifties or nearing retirement. Most of them have also been sweeping the streets for several years, some even for decades.