The Manila Times

PALACE SUSPENDS GOVT WORK FOR HOLY WEEK

BY CATHERINE S. VALENTE AND CHRISTIAN CROW MAGHANOY

MALACAÑANG suspended work in ALL GOVERNMENT OFfiCES BEGINNING Wednesday noon to give workers ample time to prepare for the observance of Holy Week.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, by the authority of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., signed Memorandum Circular 16 suspending government work.

“To provide government employees the full opportunity to properly observe 06-07 April 2023, regular holidays, and to allow them to travel to and from the different regions in the country, work in government offices on 5 April 2023 is hereby suspended from 12:00 o’clock in the afternoon onwards,” the circular read.

Bersamin, however, said 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 must continue with their operations and render the necessary services.

Meanwhile, the suspension of work in private companies and offices is left to the discretion of their respective employers.

This circular, which was released to the public on Friday, shall take effect immediately.

Malacañang earlier declared April 6 and 7 as regular holidays in observance of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

Speaking to reporters in Bataan on Friday, Marcos assured the public that the government is prepared for the coming Holy Week.

He said the government needs additional preparation for the heat of the Holy Week.

“We have been preparing already for a while, we just had to add to our preparations because it suddenly became hot,” he said.

Despite this, the President assured the public that everything was in place.

“We have to make everybody comfortable, so that they can get to where they want as quickly as possible,” he said.

MMDA allows provincial buses on EDSA

Moreover, provincial buses have been allowed to traverse portions of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) from April 6 to 10, 2023 to accommodate the expected influx of passengers for the Holy Week.

In an advisory issued on Friday, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said the provincial buses coming from North Luzon will end their trips at the bus terminals in Cubao,

Quezon City.

Meanwhile, provincial buses coming from South Luzon will end their trips at the bus terminals in Pasay City.

The metro traffic bureau noted that provincial buses along EDSA from April 3 to 5, 2023, will only be allowed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Meanwhile, EDSA will be available for all provincial buses round the clock from April 6 to 10, 2023, to accommodate the expected influx of passengers going to the provinces for the observance of the Holy Week.

“This is to allow the provincial buses to accommodate the expected high number of passengers going to the provinces for the Lenten season and ensure the convenience and comfort of the commuters,” the statement read.

Provincal buses have been banned along the stretch of EDSA since 2019 following an order from the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to help decongest the road’s worsening traffic situation.

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2023-04-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-04-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://manilatimes.pressreader.com/article/281586654860476

The Manila Times