MANILA — To give government employees more time to celebrate the holidays with their families, Malacañang has suspended government work on Dec. 26, 2017 and Jan. 2, 2018.
The declaration was made through Memorandum Circular No. 37, which was signed on Dec. 13 by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, by authority of President Rodrigo Duterte.
The memo circular covers all government offices, including government-owned and -controlled corporations, government financial institutions, state universities and colleges, local government units, and other agencies and instrumentalities.
Since both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day fall on a Monday, the order gives government workers two consecutive four-day weekends to spend with their families.
However, the order provides that those agencies whose functions involve the delivery of basic services, preparedness/response to disasters and calamities, and/or the performance of other vital services shall continue with their operations and render the necessary services.
Meanwhile, the suspension of work in the legislative and judiciary branches, independent commissions or bodies, as well as in private companies and offices on the two dates is left to the discretion of their respective heads or management. (Jose Cielito Reganit/PNA)
