The Department of Education (DepEd) directed all schools and offices on Tuesday, Nov. 19, to keep Christmas celebrations simple.
In a memorandum signed by Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Fatima Lipp Panontongan, DepEd instructed schools and offices to refrain from extravagant Christmas celebrations.
DepEd emphasized that all offices and schools should “scale down” their festivities and encouraged them to “utilize the resulting savings as donations for calamity-hit communities.”
This directive aligns with an official statement from the Office of the Executive Secretary, issued on Nov. 19, urging all government agencies to avoid excessive or extravagant celebrations during the Christmas season.
The call was made “in solidarity with the millions of our countrymen who continue to grieve over the lives, homes, and livelihoods lost during the six typhoons that pummeled us in less than a month.”
Before "Pepito" (international name: Man-yi), the Philippines had already been struggling with the damage caused by tropical cyclones Kristine (Trami), Leon (Kong-Rey), Marce (Yinxing), Nika (Toraji), and Ofel (Usagi), which affected the country earlier this month.
DepEd added that Regional and Division Offices are responsible for ensuring compliance with the Presidential Directive and initiating donation drives for the affected areas.
According to DepEd Order No. 009, Series of 2024, or the Implementing Guidelines on the School Calendar and Activities for School Year (SY) 2024-2025, the Christmas break in public schools will begin on Dec. 21. Classes will resume on Jan. 2, 2025.
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