House cancels Christmas party; Speaker to donate P20-mil

AFP News - Members of the Philippine house of representatives vote to terminate heated debates on a controversial birth control law, in Manila on August 6, 2012. Philippine lawmakers passed a version of the bill after a long debate over an issue that has deeply polarised the largely Catholic nation  

The House of Representatives will no longer throw Christmas party for congressmen and their staff to sympathize with the victims of Typhoon "Pablo" this year.

Speaker Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr. made the instruction this week, taking the cue from various government agencies that wanted to help local government units in affecred places in Mindanao.

"(We) cancelled (the parties in) congress in deference to 'Pablo' victims and the massive damage they are left with," Belmonte said.