Mayors seek 5-day holiday in Metro during Pope visit

To enhance security and ease traffic flow while allowing more people to join events related to the visit of Pope Francis from Jan. 15 to 19 next year, Metro Manila mayors are requesting President Aquino to declare those dates special nonworking holidays in the capital.

In a meeting where the mayors sat as members of the Metro Manila Council (MMC), the local officials and their representatives approved a resolution conveying the request, which will be formally submitted to Malacañang on Monday.

Their move followed the earlier holiday declaration made by Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, who on Nov. 27 issued an executive order suspending  work in all local government offices and classes in all schools and universities in the city on those dates.

Present at Friday’s MMC meeting held in Makati City were Mayor Herbert Bautista of Quezon City, Mayor Antonino Calixto of Pasay City, Mayor Jaime Fresnedi of Muntinlupa City, Mayor Edwin Olivarez of Parañaque City, Mayor John  Rey Tiangco of Navotas City, and Mayor Del De Guzman of Marikina City.

Those who sent representatives were Mayor Maribel Eusebio of Pasig City and Mayor Joey Medina of the municipality of Pateros.

Composed of the mayors from the 17 local government units making up Metro Manila, the MMC serves as the policymaking body of the MMDA.

The resolution noted that the historic, five-day event is expected to draw millions of Catholic devotees and tourists to the different venues of the papal visit.

MMDA chair Francis Tolentino added that declaring those dates nonworking holidays would not only alleviate traffic conditions around the metropolis, especially along the Pope’s route, but also encourage more Filipinos to join the religious services he will officiate.

Pope Francis will have events in Metro Manila on Jan. 15 (arrival at Villamor Air Base); Jan. 16 (welcome ceremony in Malacañang; Mass at Manila Cathedral; meeting with families at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City); and Jan. 18 (meeting with religious leaders and youth representatives at University of Sto. Tomas; Mass at Rizal Park).

He’s scheduled to spend Jan. 17 in Palo, Leyte province. He leaves for Rome from Villamor Air Base on Jan. 19.

Last month, the MMDA formed the 30-member Task Force Phantom to help manage traffic and provide security for the Pope during his visit. With a report from Inquirer Research