MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday ordered the half-day suspension of government work and classes in public schools and state universities and colleges today to give employees and students time to go to the provinces for the observance of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
President Duterte issued the order through Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, who released yesterday Memorandum Circular No. 43.
The suspension, which starts at noon today, will allow “government workers to prepare for the observance of Holy Thursday and Good Friday,” the memo read.
“However, government agencies whose functions involve law enforcement, response action to disasters and calamities and/or performance of other vital services shall make available stand-by services/arrangements to meet any contingencies,” Medialdea said.
Medialdea wrote that “the suspension of work in other branches of government and independent bodies as well as in private companies and offices is left to the discretion of their respective administrators.”
The Palace earlier declared Maundy Thursday, March 29, and Good Friday, March 30, as regular non-working holidays.
Half-day in courts
Just like in the executive branch, there will be half-day work in courts nationwide today to give way to the nation’s observance of the Holy Week.
The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday announced all courts would close at noon except those in cities and municipalities that have already declared a whole-day suspension of work, “in which case the local government unit-directed suspension applies.”
In Manila, however, although Mayor Joseph Estrada has declared suspension of work today, there will still be work in the morning at the SC and Court of Appeals. The whole-day suspension of work applied only to trial courts in the city. – Edu Punay