Dumaguete City’s 15,000 indigent families, including persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and more or less 4,000 indigent children are this year’s recipients of Pamasko of the city government with a total budget of P2.5 million.
Of the number, more than 9,500 are indigent families while the rest are senior citizens and persons with disabilities, according to City Social Welfare Officer Carola Alquero.
She said that due to the hectic schedule, it was recommended that this year’s Pamasko will be distributed starting in January next year.
But for the share-a-meal, Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria has started distributing food packs in barangays Tinago, Calindagan, Mangnao, Banilad, Bajumpandan, and Cantil-e; to be followed by Talay, Balugo and Cadawinonan.
On Wednesday will be the turn for barangays Bagacay, Junob, Tabuctubig, Poblacion 2, Poblacion 7, Taclobo and Batinguel.
Barangay Calindagan has the highest number of recipients with 450 children, while the next biggest barangay, Taclobo, only has 250 recipients.
Alquero made it clear that those tasked to identify the indigent families, senior citizens, PWDs, and children who can avail of the share-a-meal are the barangay nutrition scholars and health workers with certification from their respective village chiefs.
To also receive the white gifts are the 500 detainees at the Bureau of Jail Management & Penology in Bajumpandan, including detainees at the women’s dormitory.
Mayor Sagarbarria said that since it is Christmas, he recommended the giver to bring the gifts to the barangays himself/herself, instead of calling the recipients over to a venue where they will have to spend for fares, aside from the inconvenience of waiting and lining up, which has been the previous practice. (PNA)
