The Makati City government has started distributing gift bags to thousands of families as early Christmas presents this year.
As of Nov. 8, the Makati Action Center has given away a total of 6,298 Christmas bags to senior citizens who have already received their Pamaskong Handog tickets.
Mayor Abigail Binay said the early distribution of “Pamaskong Handog” bags was part of her administration’s commitment to ensure that residents can enjoy a meaningful and happy Christmas.
“We usually distribute the Pamaskong Handog bags during the first week of December. These bags that contain assorted food products for Noche Buena have become a much-anticipated tradition for proud Makatizens,” she said.
Binay said the local government moved up the distribution of the gift bags so that families need not worry about preparations for the traditional family meal at Christmas time.
“In light of the rising prices of goods, this is our way of helping Makati’s families enjoy a merrier Christmas this year,” she said.
The mayor said around 240,000 residents will receive the free bags. These include some 105,000 residents, 84,000 senior citizens, 12,000 differently-abled persons, 4,500 members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), 3,000 relocatees, 11,000 City Hall employees, 5,400 barangay employees, 3,300 DepEd-Makati public school teachers, 750 Makati police officers, 7,300 pedicab, tricycle, and jeepney drivers, and 1,300 vendors.
Aside from the Pamaskong Kubol at the City Hall quadrangle, the city has also started giving out Pamaskong Handog tickets and gift bags through the Makati Action Center satellite offices in barangays.
Distribution of the Christmas bags will run until December 31, 2022.
Each bag contains two cans of Spam luncheon meat, two cans of Libby’s Vienna sausage, two cans of Argentina corned beef, one pack of spaghetti pasta with sauce, one can of fruit cocktail, one can of condensed milk, one can of cream, one box of cheese, and 2 Makatizen T-shirts.