The Archdiocese of Davao has lauded the call of the national government for its agencies to scale down Christmas parties in government agencies.

According to Fr. Ritsche Gamaya of the Archdiocese of Davao, the first Christmas celebration was kept simple.

He added that it is good to think first those who are in need, especially the victims of the recent calamities.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.  has called on various government agencies to keep their Christmas celebrations simple this year in solidarity with victims of the recent tropical cyclones.

"Alinsunod sa panawagan ng ating Pangulo, hinihikayat namin ang lahat ng ahensya ng pamahalaan na iwasan ang mga marangyang pagdiriwang ngayong Pasko," Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said in a statement.

"This call is in solidarity with the millions of our countrymen who continue to grieve over lives, homes and  livelihoods lost during the six typhoons that pummeled  us in a span of less than a month," Bersamin said.

The Palace official also said government offices are also urged to donate whatever savings they realize from scaled-down holiday celebrations to calamity-hit communities.

"On the part of the government, we will make sure that the Christmas spirit will be felt early by all the affected areas in the form of relief goods and assistance, of infrastructure rebuilt, and of livelihoods restored," he said.

Six cyclones, some of them reaching super typhoon category, battered many areas in Luzon and the Visayas in recent weeks, causing loss of lives and massive destruction in properties.

(With reports from GMA News Online)