President Marcos told reporters that the government just had to make additional preparations because of the temperature rise.
Malacañang suspended government work on April 5, from 12 p.m. onwards, to allow government employees to prepare for the Holy Week holidays.
Photo of MC16 from Malacañang
Marcos says gov't ready for Holy Week; work in Executive Branch to be suspended on April 5 noon
Mar 31, 2023 05:50 AM
At a glance
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has assured the public that the government is prepared for the coming Holy Week, saying they have been working on measures for quite some time now.
Marcos said this days ahead of the traditional observation of Holy Week this year..
In an interview in Bataan, the President told reporters that the government just had to make additional preparations because of the temperature rise.
"We have been preparing already for a while, but nadagdagan lang yung ating preparasyon dahil biglang uminit (we just had to add to our preparations because it suddenly became hot)," he said.
Despite this, Marcos assured the public that everything was in place.
"We have to make everybody-- make sure that everybody's comfortable that they can get to where they want as quickly as possible," he said.
"Sa palagay ko naman nakahanda naman kami (I think we're prepared)," he added.
JUST IN: Malacañang suspends work in government offices at 12 p.m. on April 5 to give employees time for the regular holidays on April 6 and April 7. @manilabulletin pic.twitter.com/XzLaf0yhJB
— Argyll Cyrus Geducos (@argyllcyrus_MB) March 31, 2023
With this, Malacañang has issued Memorandum Circular No. 16, suspending work in government offices on April 5, 2023, Wednesday, from 12 p.m. onwards. However, Malacañang clarified that this covers the Executive Branch only.
Based on the memorandum signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on March 31, this was to allow government employees to properly observe Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, April 6 and 7, which were declared regular holidays.
The suspension would also allow government workers to travel to and from the different regions in the country before the Holy Week holidays.
However, those agencies whose functions involve delivering basic and health services, preparedness or response to disasters and calamities, and performing other vital services shall continue with their operations and render the necessary services.
Meanwhile, the suspension of work in private companies and offices "is left to the sound discretion of their respective employers."