DESPITE the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic - and the anxieties and uncertainties of what the next year may bring - this will still be a "Merry Christmas" for residents of Biñan City, Laguna.
This is the pledge of the city government as it started out the distribution of its "Pamaskong Handog" food packs to residents starting December 14.
"Nais naming sabihin sa aming mga kapwa Biñanense na bagama't maraming sakuna at lalo't higit ang nangyayaring pandemya, ay hindi nito mapipigilan ang tulong na aming ihahatid sa kanila," Vice Mayor Gel Alonte said in a message to OpinYon Laguna.
"Nagtulung-tulong po ang mga tulad naming lingkod-bayan upang maipadama sa kanila ang tunay na diwa ng Pasko kahit man lang sa pamamagitan ng ating munting handog na Pamaskong Bayong," he added.
Expanded scope
This is not the first time the city government, led by Mayor Arman Dimaguila, Jr., gave out food packs to Biñan's residents every Christmas.
The tradition of handing out "Pamaskong Handog" had started in 2017, a year after Dimaguila first took office as City Mayor.
“Importanteng maramdaman ng ating mga kababayan ang pagmamahal ng lungsod sa kanila at sa kabila ng kahirapan, nandirito ang ama ng lungsod ng Biñan. Kapag tayo ay nagbibigay ay mas nakaka-receive po tayo,” Dimaguila had said at the time.
At first, senior citizens and indigent residents were given these Christmas food packs, but this year, the city government has decided to expand the scope of the program considering the continuing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic to its residents.
Like what the LGU has done before in the distribution of its "ayuda" to residents who were affected by the pandemic earlier this year, city officials are quick to reassure Biñanenses that there will be no discrimination in the distribution of the Pamaskong Handog.
"Wala kaming pipiliin sa mga mabibigyan," Biñan City Representative Len Alonte told OpinYon Laguna.
"Ang local government [ng Biñan] ay talagang pinaghandaan ang Paskong ito na mabigyan ang bawat isang Biñanense ng Pamaskong Handog."
To ensure an equitable distribution of the gift packs, the city government has adopted a “cluster” distribution scheme per barangay.
‘Balik-buwis’
This year’s gift-giving was also termed by Mayor Dimaguila and Biñan City Representative Len Alonte as “Balik-Buwis” – a way of “paying forward” the revenues the city has received from taxes even amid the pandemic.
“Iyon pong buwis na binabayad ninyo, na ibinibigay po ninyo sa mga mamamayan, iyon po ay ginagamit nang tama ng pamahalaang lokal at ibinabalik po sa bawat pamilyang Biñanense,” Rep. Alonte told OpinYon Laguna.
Even then, Mayor Dimaguila has acknowledged that given the current national and local economic situation, collection of revenues has dipped somewhat compared to pre-pandemic years.
“Pero ang ginagawa po natin, pinagtatama-tama po natin [ang paggastos],” he said.
This had meant sacrificing many of the traditions that had marked Christmas in Biñan pre-pandemic.
For example, the LGU has decided not to hold any Christmas parties, partly due to the current restrictions brought by the pandemic.
“Ang natipid po natin doon ay inilagay natin sa programang ito,” Dimaguila added.
New meaning
While many Biñanenses have already been receiving Christmas gifts from the local government prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, this year's distribution of gift packs had lent a new meaning.
For them, it is tangible proof that the LGU is ready and able to go the extra mile and provide them with much-needed assistance at a time when a global pandemic has thrown their lives and livelihood at risk.
"Sa panahon po ngayon na mahirap na humanap ng pagkain at pagkakakitaan, malaking tulong po talaga ito," a resident of Barangay Sto. Nino told OpinYon Laguna.
Meanwhile, even as Covid-19 cases are now on single-digit figures in Biñan City, officials are relentless in reminding the public to continue practicing health protocols as they celebrate the holiday season.
"Patuloy pa rin po tayong mag-ingat, maghugas ng kamay, huwag kalilimutang magsuot ng mask at sundin pa rin ang tagubilin ng pamahalaan," Vice Mayor Alonte stressed.
"[Pero] hindi mapipigilan ng pandemya ang pagkakataon na ating ipagdiwang ang kapanganakan ni Jesus at tayo ay buo, masaya at magkakasama."