The city government of Dumaguete, the capital of Negros Oriental, is all set for the yearly Handog Pamasko or gift-giving to its indigents, to include Persons-with-Disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens.
Carola Somoza Alquero, head of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) disclosed that the local government has allocated P6-million for 20,000 indigent beneficiaries.
The Handog Pamasko is targeted on December 20, 21 and 22 at the different barangays in Dumaguete.
Alquero disclosed that each recipient, whether an indigent family, PWD or senior citizen, will each receive P300 worth of groceries.
However, the mode of distribution for the Christmas gift-giving will have to be finalized yet, as Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo earlier wanted to give them in the form of vouchers or gift certificates, Alquero further disclosed.
But early consultations with the Commission on Audit (COA) showed the gift vouchers or certificates had limitations and would go through stringent processes as opposed to giving cash instead, according to Alquero.
In the past, the CSWDO distributed groceries already individually packed for the recipients but packing of these Christmas gifts is no longer possible now because of time constraints, she said.
The CSWDO is still awaiting final word from the mayor on whether to give cash or gift checks to the recipients, said Alquero.
Social workers are still going around the barangays to finalize the list of indigent-recipients to the Handog Pamasko this year.
The number of indigents who benefit from the yearly Handog Pamasko in Dumaguete City continue to rise each year, with an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 recipients last year, Alquero said. (PNA/JFP)
