A resident at Jose Fabella Center in Mandaluyong City receives food packs handed out by Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin 鈥淏enhur鈥� Abalos Jr. and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Acting Chairman Romando Artes during the 鈥淟AB (Lingap at Alagang Bayanihan) for All: Christmas for All鈥澛爂ift-giving project聽on Monday. 黑料社 / Luisa K. Cabato
MANILA, Philippines 鈥斅燤ore than 250 homeless individuals received food packs and other assistance during the 鈥淟AB (Lingap at Alagang Bayanihan) for All: Christmas for All鈥� gift-giving project held at the Jose Fabella Center in Mandaluyong City on Monday.
The event was attended by non-government organizations and key government officials.
鈥淚t is a whole-of-government approach with different government agencies working together with the First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos taking the lead and of course, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.,鈥� said Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin 鈥淏enhur鈥� Abalos Jr. in his opening remarks.
鈥淭his is not just a one-day project for Christmas but a continuous giving, loving, and sharing,鈥� he added.
The 253 beneficiaries are temporarily seeking shelter at the center.
Aside from food, they will also be provided with health care, social services, and livelihood assistance, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Acting Chairman Romando Artes said.
Also present during the event were MMDA Metro Manila Council President and San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, MMDA Undersecretary Procopio Lipana, and MMDA Assistant General Manager for Operations David Angelo Vargas.
Department of Health-National Capital Region Regional Director Gloria Balboa, Metro Manila Mayors鈥� Spouses Foundation President Keri Zamora, and Assistant Secretary for Regional Operations Paul Ledesma also attended the event.
Among those who are living in the center for the time being is 53-year-old alias 鈥淎ngel.鈥�
Angel, together with her husband, daughter, and grandchild, was rescued by social workers through the Department of Social Welfare and Development鈥檚 Oplan Pag-Abot program.
According to her, their family used to sleep on the stairs of a grocery store in Malabon City before they were transferred to the center two months ago.
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鈥淧inapakain po kami. Tumutulong po kami sa gawaing bahay,鈥� Angel told 黑料社.
(We are fed. We help with the housework.)
鈥淢ayroong medical assistance, pinag-aaral po sila [鈥榶ung mga bata na nandito,鈥� she added.
(There is medical assistance; they [the children who are here] are being sent to school.)
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Some of the projects under the 鈥淟AB for All鈥� initiative are free laboratory testing, medical check-ups, family planning services, and free medicines.
Also included are tree-planting activities and coastal clean-up drives, among other services.