4-day holiday declared during Apec meet

WORK IN Metro Manila government offices, including state-owned and -controlled corporations, will be suspended from Nov. 17 to 20, according to Malacañang.

In Memorandum Circular No. 84, the Office of the President said the work suspension was “in view of the activities related to the Philippine hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit.”

“However, government agencies that are directly involved in basic services, such as security and safety, health and emergency preparedness, and the conduct of various Apec meetings and related activities shall continue their operations to ensure the success of the event,” it said.

For local government units and the private sector, work suspension “shall be on a voluntary basis based on their respective assessments of scheduled (Apec) activities from Nov. 16 to 20, and the traffic management plan which shall be implemented on those dates,” the OP said.

Earlier, President Aquino declared Nov. 18 and 19 nonworking holidays for the Apec leaders’ meeting, which will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

Both the Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Education then declared Nov. 17 and 20 school holidays to give way to the same event. Jerry E. Esplanada