Salceda orders half-day suspension of classes, gov’t work in Albay for Sona

LEGAZPI CITY — Albay Gov. Joey Salceda has ordered a half-day suspension of classes and work in provincial and local government offices in the province on Monday afternoon on the occasion of President Benigno Aquino III’s State of the Nation Address (Sona).

The suspension covers both public and private school classes in all levels and all local government units under the provincial government starting noon, except those engaged in delivering health, responding to emergency and in keeping the peace and order.

Salceda, in his Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council advisory released on Sunday, said the suspension of classes and work will give a chance to Albayanos to watch and listen to the address of President Aquino, especially since it will be his last. The President’s term will end in June next year.

“It is our civic duty to listen to Sona. At this stage of our nation building, it will help us grow together as people,” Salceda said in his Facebook account.

Salceda also suggested to school administrators in the province to require their students to submit a reaction paper on the Sona.

“The Sona offers our youth a good lesson which they can ideally learn by listening together with their family at home. In exchange for their afternoon classes, college students may be required to submit one paragraph reaction to the Sona to their professors,” the advisory read.

Provincial department heads were also directed to submit to the Provincial Planning Development Office a one-page policy, program and project recommendations arising from the Sona.