No work today due to typhoon Yolanda

CEBU, Philippines - After he canceled the holding of classes last Wednesday, Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III announced yesterday the suspension of work for all public and private offices in the province due to typhoon Yolanda.

Around 10 a.m., Davide, through Provincial Information Officer Ethel Natera, formally announced that work in the Provincial Capitol and all other public and private offices in the province are suspended for the rest of the day and the whole day today.

“It is a declared policy of the Provincial Government to uphold the people’s basic rights to life, health, safety and property and to promote the general welfare of its constituents at all times, especially during disasters and calamities,” Davide said, in his memorandum.

He said that because of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (Pagasa) forecast that the effects of typhoon Yolanda will be felt in Cebu starting yesterday afternoon, the Provincial Government is also suspending work.

Five hours after Davide’s announcement, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama also ordered that there should be no work in both the public and private sectors today.

In a memorandum, the mayor said it is following the advice of Pagasa, it being the body “mandated to observe and report (on) the weather.”

Last Wednesday, he also ordered that classes in both public and private schools be suspended yesterday and today to ensure the safety of the students.

But even before Rama made his directive, the offices of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCCs) and the Regional Trial Court (RTC) already told their employees not to report for work today.

MTCC Executive Judge Francisco Seville issued a memorandum in anticipation of the coming typhoon. RTC Executive Judge Soliver Peras likewise ordered all transactions suspended.

Yesterday, court and employees of  the  MTCC, RTC and the Prosecutor’s Office for both Cebu City and Cebu Province started packing their things around 11 a.m. after reporting for work before 8 a.m.

 Just a few people, though, were seen doing transactions in each branch and in the Prosecutor’s Office.

 Judges and court employees currently hold office in tents outside the Marcelo Fernan Hall of Justice inside the Capitol compound  following the Oct. 15 earthquake, which rendered the building unsafe for occupancy.

Hearings, however, are suspended until further notice.

Earlier, Supreme Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez along with the USAID Philippines visited and inspected the Hall of Justice.

 Marquez told the media that there was no final decision yet where the court employees will be transferred, saying he would have it finalized within the week

For Davide, safety is the foremost reason behind his order suspending work.   (FREEMAN)