Palace to gov’t agencies: Keep holiday parties ‘simple’

MANILA — Malacañang reminded government agencies to observe “simple” holiday celebrations as part of the administration’s cost-cutting initiatives amid the anticipated effects of a “very strong” El Niño.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the government’s austerity measures are still in place, which began earlier this year when the Middle East crisis broke out.

“Kaya ang dapat na mga Christmas parties ay hindi man natin ipag-utos, pero ang reminder is dapat na maging simple dahil mas marami pa tayong kakaharapin na mga issues na dapat na matugunan,” Castro said in a briefing Friday, November 6.

[While we are not mandating how Christmas parties should be held, we would like to remind everyone to keep them simple, as there are other pressing issues that need to be addressed.]

With the looming “Super” El Niño, Castro said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered agencies to prepare and ensure sufficient water despite the expected significant reduction of rainfall.

The Palace official said Executive Secretary Ralph Recto convened the concerned agencies and local executives last November 4 to discuss proactive measures across sectors.

There, Recto directed government agencies to map out the areas that may experience water supply shortages and intense heat due to the effects of Super El Niño.

“Hiniling din ni ES Recto sa mga samahan ng LGUs na alamin ang pangangailangan ng kanilang mga miyembro kabilang ang mga generator, solar power system, imbakan ng tubig at iba pa,” Castro said, noting that Cagayan Valley may suffer the most from the anticipated drought.

[ES Recto also requested LGUs to determine the needs of their members, including generators, solar power systems, water storage facilities, and others.]

The government is also open to reviewing the priorities for the use of the Local Government Support Fund to give local officials the flexibility to prepare for the effects of a very strong El Niño.