Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan declared half-day classes for students at all levels in private and public schools and half-day work for city government employees on Wednesday, March 27, in observance of Holy Week.
Lacuna-Pangan signed Executive Order (EO) No. 8 on Monday, March 25, declaring the suspension of all classes from noon onwards.
It also announced half-day work for government employees, except for the offices involved in emergency response and delivery of basic and health services.
“To provide Manileños the full opportunity to properly observe the Holy Week when families gather together for special meals, go to church for Easter vigils and mass, renew and recollect on their faith, spend time with their fellow religious and show their devotion to the Catholic Church, it is proper to give them enough time to prepare for the events leading to the observance of their remembrance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ”, it read.
It added that private offices have the discretion to make their pronouncements.
Lacuna-Pangan also signed EO No. 9 on Tuesday, implementing a liquor ban from March 28 to 29 for a peaceful commemoration of Holy Week.
The order stated that it prohibited the sale and consumption of intoxicating and alcoholic beverages within the 500-meter radius of all Catholic churches in the city.
The mayor directed the Manila Police District (MPD) and all law enforcement officers to strictly implement the order.