MALACAÑANG, through Memorandum Circular 55 signed Friday, December 21, announced the suspension of work in government offices on December 26.
Government employees will have a longer holiday vacation since four days of December and January 1, 2019, through Proclamation 555 signed by Duterte in August, were declared as holidays.
The Palace also issued MC 54 earlier, which suspended office work in the public sector on January 2, 2019.
MC 55, inked by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea by authority of President Rodrigo Duterte, declared the suspension "to give the employees of the government full opportunity to celebrate the holidays with their families and loved ones."
The suspension of work covers government offices nationwide, including government-owned or -controlled corporations, government financial institutions, state universities and colleges, local government units, and other agencies and instrumentalities.
MC 55, however, mandated 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."
Suspension of work in other branches of government, independent commissions, and private companies is left to the discretion of their respective heads, the memorandum said.
Under Proclamation 555, December 25 (Wednesday), 30 (Monday) and January 1 (Tuesday), 2019 were declared as regular holidays, while December 24 (Tuesday) and 31 (Tuesday) were announced as special non-working days. (SunStar Philippines)