CARMONA, Cavite - A garbage collector with 13 children was chosen as the major winner of a virtual Christmas thanksgiving and gift-giving program held by the municipal government on Wednesday (December 23).
Carlito Mendoza, a 54-year-old garbage collector from Barangay Maduya, received groceries worth over P15,000, which he and his family could use to start a sari-sari store business.
Cavite 5th District Representative Dahlia Loyola and Carmona Mayor Roy Loyola awarded the prize to Mendoza and to 20 other indigent residents who received Holiday cash gifts of P5,000 each.
The program seeks to provide assistance to Carmona residents who remained strong, humble, and honest amid recent trials, including the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The local government unit chose the awardees based on data from enumerators as verified by barangay officials.
Winners of the Barangay Christmas Palamuti Contest and the Bahay Mo, Gayak Pamasko Contest were also awarded during the virtual event through livestreaming on Facebook.