The employees and officials of the City Government of Valenzuela unanimously decided to let go its annual grand Christmas party in lieu of the traditional Tree of Hope Lighting Ceremony dubbed as, “Valenzuela para sa Visayas: Isang Pagsaludo sa Bayanihang Valenzuelano,” to show their strong commitment to continuously aid the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.

 

City Mayor REX Gatchalian said that an extravagant Christmas celebration of government employees would seem insensitive, knowing that there are typhoon victims in the Visayas who are still enduring one of the most painful experiences in their lives.

 

On November 14, Valenzuela City has pledged to help the towns of Basey and Marabut in Western Samar, to wholeheartedly comply with Metro Manila Development Agency’s (MMDA) "Adopt-a-Town" program, which mandates each of the 17 local government units in Metro Manila to aid specific municipalities in the six provinces in Palawan and the Visayas.

 

“From the outset, I have said that our relief mission would be a sustained effort. We would send whatever help we can until they are finally back on their feet again,” Mayor REX shared.

 

On November 15, the first batch of city government personnel, consisted of five physicians, five nurses and 13 police officers, brought 16,000 relief packs and PhP 1.3 million-worth of medicines for relief and medical mission to Western Samar.

 

“Our first team reported that the homeless in Basey and Marabut walk all day, looking for a place to shelter themselves in,” Mayor REX said.

 

On November 27, the second wave of the local government’s contingent put up bunkhouses in each of the two barangays of Tinabanan and Binokyahan. Each bunkhouse that measures 50 feet in length and 26 feet in width, can house ten families. Two thousand lona sheets were also distributed among those who were not accommodated in the bunkhouses. The lona sheets, or plastic fabric, used on the bunkhouses had been donated by socio-civic organizations in Valenzuela City.

 

The relief team also brought with them 2,400 packs of food, 2,000 sets of mosquito nets, 9,850 packs of used clothes and 4,000 pairs of slippers.

 

A third relief mission will be sent to the two towns either this December or early January next year.

 

A total of PhP 17.9 million has been allocated by Valenzuela City for cash donation to 24 municipalities, towns and provinces devastated by the calamity.

The amount which will be saved by the local government from staging a grand Christmas party shall be added instead to the funds for outgoing donations.

 

Highlights of the Tree of Hope Lighting Ceremony includes concelebrated mass, multimedia presentation, and commendation of deployed personnel from City Engineering Office, City External Services Office (CESO), City Health Office (CHO), City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), and Public Information Office (PIO), together with some officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) – Valenzuela.