The annual gift-giving tradition continues as the City Government of Valenzuela, led by Mayor WES Gatchalian, launches the Pasko sa Hulyo para kay Lolo at Lola, July 12. 

Some 69,025 Pamilyang Valenzuelano senior citizens are expected to receive their annual early Christmas treat from the city government in the form of two (2) bags of five (5) kilograms of rice for each elderly. These eligible beneficiaries are registered senior citizens of the Office for Senior Citizen’s Affairs (OSCA). 

In his message, Valenzuela Mayor WES Gatchalian expressed his love for the elderlies and took pride of the quality of rice being given, “Alam niyo po, dito sa Valenzuela, mahal na mahal po natin ang mga senior citizen. Kaya po hindi sapat na namimigay tayo ng bigas lamang, dapat po ang bigas na binibigay natin ay masarap at high quality. Kaya po ipinagmamalaki ko po na ang bigas natin ay bagong ani, mula sa Probinsya ng Isabela. [You know, here in Valenzuela, we love our senior citizens very much. We are not just giving away rice, but the rice we give is good and high quality. I am proud to say that our rice is newly harvested, from the province of Isabela."]

Not just helping the seniors, but also the local farmers, the city government established a partnership with the Nagkakaisang Magsasaka ng Isabela Agriculture Cooperative from Province of Isabela and procured their rice as a way of supporting the local farmers in Northern Luzon. 

Moreover, the distribution will run for five days to cover all the 33 Barangays of the City. On its first day, about 12,491 senior citizens from Barangays Wawang Pulo, Balangkas, Arkong Bato, Poblacion, Pulo, Pariancillo Villa, Palasan, Isla, Bisig, Mabolo, Tagalog, Pasolo, Rincon, and Malinta already received their sacks of rice. 

To claim their gift, the recipient would have to bring the voucher and their OSCA ID to the designated venue, and the schedule is written on the back of their voucher which was given house-to-house weeks before the distribution. 

The Pasko sa Hulyo para kay Lola at Lola alongside the Pamaskong Handog para kay Lolo at Lola is a yearly tradition of gift-giving of the City Government as a way of giving back and honoring all the elderly in the City. 

Also leading the distribution of gift packs were Vice Mayor Lorie Natividad-Borja, Councilors Ghogo Deato-Lee, Marlon Alejandrino, Ramon Encarnacion, Ricar Enriquez, Cris Feliciano, SK Federation President Councilor Jai Esplana, and Liga ng mga Barangay President Councilor Mario San Andres.

For a complete list of the redemption sites and schedules, please refer to: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/WZQb5C5nUSx4Pnqh/