There will be no Christmas parties for all offices and departments of the Quezon City government as Mayor Joy Belmonte on Tuesday ordered them to instead donate the funds intended for the celebration to the underprivileged.

In a memorandum, Mayor Joy Belmonte said it would be inappropriate for offices of the city government to hold customary Christmas parties while many of its citizens are experiencing hardships due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

“The money that would have been spent on office Christmas parties would do more good as donations to the underprivileged during this extraordinarily difficult time in our nation’s history,” Belmonte said.

Belmonte enjoined all offices and departments to adopt an underprivileged sector, such as the urban poor, displaced workers, jeepney drivers, street vendors, indigent children, the poor senior citizens, among others.

They must coordinate with the City Social Services and Development Department to identify the legitimate representative of their chosen sector on or before Sept. 30.

“The representative may be a non-government organization, civic group, charity, association or similar organization,” Belmonte said.

All offices and departments are encouraged to donate to the sectoral representative the amount equivalent to the funds raised and allotted for their Christmas party not later than Dec. 23, 2020.

Instead of holding Christmas parties, Belmonte encouraged city hall employees to modestly celebrate the season in their homes, in the company of friends and loved ones. (PNA)