Palace to gov't agencies: Scale down Christmas parties

Malacañang has directed officials and employees of the government to "scale down" their Christmas celebrations and instead donate to communities devastated by the successive typhoons that hit the country.

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"In line with the call of our President, we encourage all government agencies to avoid lavish celebrations this Christmas," Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said in a statement yesterday.

"This call is in solidarity with the millions of our countrymen who continue to grieve over lives, homes and livelihoods lost during the six typhoons that pummeled us in a span of less than a month," he further stated.

He added there is no need to issue official guidance as the administration believes in the kindness of state workers in unilaterally adopting austerity in their celebrations.