Metro Manila classes suspended Nov. 16-17 for Asean summit

Students in the metropolis can look forward to a long weekend next month after all Metro Manila mayors agreed on Tuesday to suspend classes on Nov. 16 and 17 as the country would be hosting the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit.

While the summit will end on Nov. 14, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista said his counterparts decided to suspend classes in all levels since thousands of delegates were expected to tour Metro Manila after the event.

“We want [fewer] people [in Metro Manila]. So this early, families can decide if they would go on vacation. Then there would be fewer cars as some would go home to the provinces,” Bautista said on the sidelines of Tuesday’s Metro Manila Council meeting.

He said, however, that work in both government and private offices were not suspended on those days, unless declared otherwise by Malacañang.

On Nov. 10 to 14, leaders and top diplomats from the 10-nation regional bloc will hold meetings in Manila and Clark in Pampanga province.

Other world leaders, like US President Donald Trump and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, are expected to attend the summit.