IN OBSERVANCE of the 27th National Family Week, work in government offices in the executive branch is suspended on Monday, September 23, from 3 p.m. onwards, Malacañang announced.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, by authority of President Rodrigo Duterte, signed Memorandum Circular (MC) 65 on Monday, pursuant to Proclamation 60 signed in 1992, which declares the last week of September of every year as Family Week.

"In order to afford government workers more time to spend with their families on this, the first day of the 27th National Family Week Celebration, work in government offices in the Executive Branch on 23 September 2019 is hereby suspended from 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon onwards," the document read.

The suspension of work covers all government offices under the executive branch, including government-owned or -controlled corporations, government financial institutions, state universities and colleges, local government units, and other agencies and instrumentalities.

MC 65, however, directs government agencies involved in the delivery of basic and health services, preparedness or response to disasters and calamities, and performance of other vital services to "continue with their operations and render the necessary services."

"The suspension of work in other branches of government and in independent commissions of bodies is left to the sound discretion of their respective heads/management," it added. (Ruth Abbey Gita/SunStar Philippines)