ANGELES CITY — Some 10,755 tricycle drivers and 1,737 jeepney drivers in this city and at least 2,000 members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Lesbian, Queer or Questioning Plus (LGBTQ+) community received five kilos of rice each from Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. as his personal Christmas gift held on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2023.
Mayor Lazatin acknowledged the importance of the transport sector in the city’s continuous growth as they serve as the modes of transportation for workers and commuters in the city.
“Ito pong ginagawa po natin na pagbibigay ng pamaskong bigas para sa ating mga drivers ay isang pasasalamat sa araw-araw po nilang pagbibigay serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan,” Lazatin said.
“Isa po sila sa mga dahilan ng patuloy na paglago ng Angeles City, kaya nararapat lamang na bigyan sila ng simpleng pasasalamat ngayong Holiday season sa pamamagitan po ng pagbibigay natin ng bigas,” Mayor Lazatin added.
This has been a yearly tradition of Mayor Lazatin to give personal rice gifts for all the members of the transport sector.
Public Transportation and Regulatory Officer-in-Charge Ferdinand Calma and Command Center Chief Michael Lising led the distribution of the rice assistance on behalf of Mayor Lazatin.
Calma said the sector of public transportation is among those being given attention by Mayor Lazatin.
“Nais ko pong ihatid ang aking pasasalamat, dahil lagi pong napapansin at natutulungan ang hanay ng transportasyon ni Mayor Pogi. Asahan po ng ating mga kababayan na mananatiling matino, tapat at may pusong magtatrabaho ang mga public transport drivers po natin para sa mga Angeleños,” he added.
It should be recalled that amid the pandemic, public transportation suffered with some 15,000 jeepney and tricycle drivers receiving P1,000 cash assistance from the city government.
On same day, Lazatin also distributed another rice assistance to 2,000 members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Lesbian, Queer or Questioning Plus (LGBTQ+) Community here.
Each member of the LGBTQ+ community took home five kilos of rice.
“Simula nang naupo po tayo bilang Mayor, taun-taon po nating ginagawa itong pagbibigay ng bigas para sa mga miyembro ng LGBTQ+,” Lazatin said.
Mayor Lazatin recognizes the LGBTQ+ community as a vital part of society and has always given his full support in their endeavors.
On behalf of Mayor Lazatin, members of the Angeles City Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office, headed by Irish Bonus-Llego, led the distribution of rice assistance.
Meanwhile, Angeles City LGBTQ+ Focal Person Jhune Angeles expressed his heartfelt gratitude for this yearly assistance from Mayor Lazatin.
“Mula sa lahat ng mga LGBTQ+ dito sa Angeles City, lubos po kaming nagpapasalamat sa minamahal at napakasipag nating Mayor Pogi, sa walang sawang suportang ibinibigay sa aming hanay at sa pamaskong pabigas na ipinagkakaloob sa amin,” Angeles said.
Prior to this, on Thursday, all 4,695 Angeles City employees – elected, co-terminus, casual, and Contract of Service received 10 kilos of rice and food packages.
Among the beneficiaries of the rice subsidy and food packages are the 13 elected officials in the city; 1,232 permanent, casual, and contractual personnel; and 3,450 COS employees.
Flordeliza Santos, president of the Association of Government Employees for a New Dynamic Angeles City (AGENDA), expressed gratitude to Mayor Lazatin for his kindness not just to the city hall employees, but also to their families.
According to her, this is heartwarming news apart from the P18,000 additional benefits for the 1,232 permanent, casual, and contractual workers and P3,000 year-end gratuity for 3,450 COS personnel.
Aside from the 10 kilos of rice and food packages, all employees will get a chance to win prizes in this year’s City Hall Employees Recognition Night.
Mayor Lazatin will also award certificates of recognition and cash incentives to 87 city hall employees for the year 2023.
