Makati Residents Get Noche Buena, Cash Gifts, Baby Care Kits, And More This Christmas

Makati City residents won’t have to worry about their Noche Buena with the local government’s annual Paskuhan Kubol event!

According to a Metro News Central report, at the opening ceremony for the event, Mayor Abby Binay said, “Yearly, we see to it that the distribution of Christmas gift bags will be done early December so that residents can plan for their Noche Buena and make good use of the products contained in the bag.”

A total of 97,172 bags will be distributed to residents per household in the 33 barangays of Makati. Each gift bag contains a Makatizen shirt and food products including canned tuna, corned beef, luncheon meat, pasta, spaghetti sauce, fruit cocktail, condensed milk, and cream.

Gift bags are not the only presents Makati residents are receiving this season. In November 2019, Inquirer.net reported that Mayor Binay ordered the early release of cash gifts ranging from P1,500 to P5,000 to senior citizens under the Blu Card program, in addition to Christmas gift bags. The cash gifts were distributed from November 16 to December 9.

According to the report, the city allocated P331.7 million worth of cash gifts for seniors and centenarians, P142.5 million of which was to be distributed as yearend cash gifts.

The amount of the cash gift each individual received corresponded to their age:

• 60 to 69 years old: P1,500
• 70 to 79 years old: P2,000
• 80 to 89 years old: P2,500
• 90 years old and above: P5,000

Other beneficiaries of the Paskuhan Kubol program are over 9,000 Makati City government employees and 6,265 solo parents and families covered by the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the city.

In addition to the gift bags, according to My Makati, elementary students at several Makati City schools were given tumblers, emergency kits, and dengue kits.

This month, more than 93,000 students from preschool to high school, including special education students, will also be given free tumblers, while over 41,000 junior to senior high school students will be given hooded jackets.

The Pamaskong Handog gift bags were distributed at the Makati City Hall Quadrangle’s Paskuhan Kubol and satellite claiming centers from December 3 to 6. However, for Makati residents who have yet to claim their Christmas goodies, you still have a chance to get your gift bags at the Paskuhan Kubol until January 30, 2020.

Take a look at the schedule of Pamaskong Handog gift bags distribution here:

Aside from the Christmas gift bags, the Makati City government also implements various benefits for its citizens, including those catering to child development. For instance, under the Baby Makatizen program, women who have their checkups at the city’s public health facilities or private hospitals and clinics are given bags containing newborn essentials like diapers, baby wipes, swaddle blankets, and pajamas.

According to the Philippine Information Agency, these kits are given to encourage moms to complete all of their prenatal checkups. To avail of this program, expectant moms need to be Yellow Card holders who have completed their required checkups from the first to the third trimester.

Christmas is a great time to eat whatever you want! Click here to learn where you can get yummy cakes for your Noche Buena table.