DAR-8 personnel donate Christmas party fund to Pablo victims

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
January 10, 2013

TACLOBAN CITY  –  Even as the victims of typhoon Pablo continue to struggle to make their lives as normal as possible, kind-hearted brethren from the various parts of the country continue to give their share in easing the burden of the victims.

In the spirit of solidarity and brotherhood, the employees of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Eastern Visayas forego with a lavish Christmas party in 2012 in to donate to the victims of typhoon “Pablo” in Mindanao.

DAR-8 Regional Director Eliasem Castillo disclosed that the entire DAR organization in Region-8 was able to raise a total of P60,640 from the staff of the Regional and six provincial offices for the victims in the typhoon-ravaged areas.

The said amount will be forwarded to the DAR Central Office per instructions from Undersecretary Dennis Barrantes for consolidation of all funds collected from the different regions nationwide before it will be turned over to the areas greatly affected by “Pablo.”

“We are so blessed here, it is just right for us to share those blessings especially to the needy this Christmas, which is a season of sharing,” Director Castillo said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Jose Alsmith Soria, DAR-8 Regional Information Officer, said that in the tradition of Christmas celebration, the DAR employees still had their simple but memorable Christmas Party on December 21.

Mr. Soria, intimated that earlier, the management of DAR planned to hold the Christmas party in a venue outside of the office but decided at the last minute to hold it instead at the agency’s training center to save much and donate the money for the typhoon Pablo victims in Mindanao.

In response to the example set by President Benigno S. Aquino III, many government agencies in the Region decided to hold the simplest if not forgo entirely their Christmas Parties and instead donate the fund for the victims of tropical storm Pablo in Mindanao.