A total of 470 children from different charitable institutions in Cebu received early Christmas gifts from the Office of the President (OP) over the weekend, a provincial social welfare official said on Monday.

In a message to the Philippine News Agency on Monday, Shalaine Marie Lucero, regional director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Central Visayas, said the children from selected shelters and orphanages were treated to various games and activities at the Cebu Technological University main campus here on Sunday.

The children received loot bags that contained items that they could use like towels and pillows, she said.

Lucero said the kids from Cebu were part of the 17,000 children in the country identified to be recipients of the project organized by the OP in 300 satellite centers as part of the second “Balik Sigla, Bigay Saya,” a nationwide gift-giving activity in partnership with the DSWD, local government units (LGU) and the private sector.

She said that presidential son William Vincent Marcos led the distribution of Christmas gifts to them while his father, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered a live-streamed speech in all of the gift-giving venues.

“We all know that Christmas is really for the children, and we all have a Merry Christmas when the children have a good Christmas,” the Chief Executive said in Filipino.

Lucero said the social welfare agency aligned their programs with the OP’s nationwide gift-giving activity for the less fortunate children who are in the special care centers managed by charitable institutions accredited with the DSWD.

The children from Cebu who participated in the program were from the Mandaue City Home for Children, Cebu City Community Scouts, The Children of Cebu, Cebu City Sta. Rita Home in Cebu City, Children’s Joy Foundation, Inc., Cebu Hope Center, Inc., Don Bosco Home for Boys, The Lingap Center for Children Toledo City, SOS Children’s Village, Children’s Shelter of Cebu, My Refuge House Ministry, Inc. in Naga City, and the Ganaan Children’s Home Foundation in Lapu-Lapu City.

“Through the “Balik Sigla, Bigay Saya” program of OP, we’ve shown that the government is taking care of the children. DSWD is the lead agency in social protection specially for children, to provide them with support and intervention, especially those who are abandoned, neglected, surrendered,” Lucero said.

Meanwhile, the city of Mandaue is hosting a two-day Children’s Summit from Nov. 27 to 28 to address issues and concerns about the younger sector, in line with the National Children’s Month celebration.

Over 150 learners and 45 representatives from supreme student government in elementary and secondary schools in Mandaue are participating in the activity.

Mayor Jonar Cortes is scheduled to deliver a state of children’s address on Tuesday. (PNA)