The local government unit of Valencia, in cooperation with the Energy Development Corp., will hold a Nativity Scene unveiling, Christmas tree lighting, and an ecumenical offering on Sunday for typhoon Yolanda victims.
The activity will be held at the town plaza Sunday evening to replace the yearly Christmas party of government employees which was scrapped this December in solidarity with, and raise funds for the thousands of people displaced by Yolanda that hit many parts of the Visayas last Nov. 8.
The EDC, the country’s leading geothermal power supplier, has constructed the town’s Christmas tree and Nativity Scene, and is also donating heavy equipment to the Valencia government, the town which hosts the 192.5 Palinpinon geothermal power plants.
According to Engr. Dwight Maxino, EDC vice president for Negros and head of the Southern Negros Geothermal Power Plant in Valencia town, this is the first time for EDC to put up a Christmas Tree in Valencia.
Originally, EDC planned to erect a bigger tree but decided to lower it from 20 meters to 11.5 meters high to save funds for relief efforts in Leyte.
The stars hanging from the tree are made by the inmates of the Negros Oriental Provincial Jail.
The joint light of the giant Christmas Tree in Valencia “fortifies our strategic partnership with Valencianons for the past 30 years and in the years to come,” said Engr. Maxino.
A simple turnover ceremony and signing of a Memorandum of Agreement for the heavy equipment will be held during the switch-on activity which shall be preceded by a Holy Mass at the Our Lady of the Abandoned Church at 6p.m. Sunday.
Local government and EDC officials, civic groups and representatives from other sectors will be present during the lighting up of the Christmas tree and unveiling of the Nativity Scene. (PNA)
