By Brian Campued
Malacañang on Tuesday directed government offices to implement work-from-home arrangement on Holy Wednesday, in light of the observance of Holy Week.
In Memorandum Circular 116 signed by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, government employees will work remotely from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, while work in government will be suspended from 12:00 in the afternoon onwards.
This is to provide government employees ample time to travel to their home provinces or to take a vacation during the long weekend.
“However, agencies whose functions involve the delivery of basic and health services, preparedness/response to disasters and calamities, and/or the performance of other vital services shall continue with their operations under usual working arrangements and render the necessary services,” the memorandum circular stated.
The adoption of similar work arrangements for private companies, on the other hand, is left to the discretion of employers.
During Holy Week, Maundy Thursday (April 2) and Good Friday (April 3) are regular holidays, while Black Saturday (April 4) was declared a special non-working day.
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said in an interview in Nueva Ecija that he “will spend a few days in Ilocos Norte” and “will be back in Manila by the weekend.” (with report from Kenneth Paciente / PTV News)
-jpv
