Palace denies Ormoc request for non-working holiday

CEBU, Philippines – Malacañang has denied the request of the Ormoc City government to declare January 15, 16 and 17 as  special non-working holidays in the city, in connection with the papal visit on January 17.

Mayor Edward Codilla received yesterday afternoon the formal notice, through Michael Aguinaldo, Malacañang's deputy executive secretary for legal affairs, which said the request has been declined "as a matter of policy and practice."

Aguinaldo wrote: "It is believed that the days may fittingly be celebrated in ways other than declaring the same a local holiday."

Meanwhile, Leyte Vice Governor Carlo Loreto clarified that the governor's declaration of a special non-working holiday for the same days covers only government offices under the provincial government. Private entities have to decide on their own if they have no work on those days, he added.