KIDAPAWAN CITY — – Mayor Joseph Evangelista scrapped the planned Christmas parties during the yuletide season, saying they cannot afford to be happy while the city residents are trying to rise from damages brought about by series of earthquakes.
Last week, Evangelista issued Memorandum No. 3717 directing all department heads to forego all scheduled Christmas parties, celebrations and Christmas holiday events stressing it is uncalled given the situation.
Scrapping the Christmas party celebration is tantamount to showing empathy with the quake victims. Instead, Evangelista urged city government employees to share their blessings to residents adversely affected by the calamity, especially those whose houses were shattered by the tremors.
Many offices at the City Hall moved out of the 4-story building as they fear the possible collapse during aftershocks. Besides, the city employees are still apprehensive to report to their respective offices due to the horrendous experience during the past weeks, they prefer to hold office at the city gymnasium.
This developed as Evangelista ordered a total ban on drinking liquor inside evacuation camps in the city “to prevent untoward and unnecessary incidents inside shelter areas.”
Kidapawan City continues to experience jolts that ranges from magnitude 1 to 3 with the epicenters traced to Makilala or Tulunan, both in North Cotabato that host fault lines. –Edwin Fenandez
