Marcos tells gov’t agencies to scale back holiday celebrations

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. directed national agencies to scale back Christmas and year-end celebrations as part of a renewed push for fiscal discipline and in solidarity with communities still recovering from recent natural disasters.

Under Memorandum Circular No. 110, signed on Dec. 15, all national government agencies and instrumentalities — including government-owned or -controlled corporations and state universities and colleges — are required to observe austerity during the holiday season.

“In light of recent natural disasters and calamities in the country, it is necessary to adopt austerity measures during the Christmas season to ensure greater efficiency in public spending,” it read.

Local government units were encouraged to follow the same guidelines.

The directive instructed agencies to keep Christmas activities “simple and meaningful,” citing the need to prioritize essential programs and services amid ongoing socioeconomic pressures and disaster recovery efforts. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana