LAPU-LAPU City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan has issued an order suspending classes in all public schools and at their local college on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, or during the city’s annual fiesta celebration.
Aside from the suspension of classes in public schools, Chan also stated in his Executive Order (EO) 2022-58 that work at City Hall is also suspended on that day.
But as to private schools, Chan said he has left it to school administrators the decision to suspend classes.
Mark Anthony Bautista, Lapu-Lapu City public information officer, said the move to suspend the classes and work is also to give way for the devotees to attend the religious activities set for the city’s annual fiesta celebration in honor of the Our Lady of the Rule.
Chan noted that this is the first time in three years that various activities are being conducted owing to the relaxation of health protocols due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
He said it is expected that an influx of devotees and visitors in the city may cause traffic congestion, difficulty in securing transportation, and lead to inconvenience in going to and coming from schools.
“There is a need to implement measures to minimize the possible inconvenience expected with a surge of devotees and visitors, protect health and well-being of all residents, and ensure the safety of all who will attend the activities,” the EO reads.
Skeletal force
But Chan assured that frontline services at City Hall such as City Treasurers Office, Office of the Building Official, City Health Office, and City Planning and Development Office, among others, will have a skeletal force to man the office to receive payments or applications.
The mayor also emphasized that the work suspension does not apply to offices involved in emergency response, maintenance of peace and order, traffic management, solid waste management, hospital services, and clean and green services.
Chan has also given the discretion to suspend work in all private business establishemnts and national government agencies in the city on that day to the management.