By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — Malacañang announced on Tuesday (26 March 2024) a half-day work schedule for government offices on Holy Wednesday, allowing employees time to travel to their provinces before Maundy Thursday.

In a Memorandum Circular No. 45 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, it states, “To ensure that government employees have ample opportunity to observe Maundy Thursday and Good Friday on March 28-29, 2024, and to facilitate travel to and from various regions in the country, work in government offices on March 27, 2024, is hereby suspended from noon onwards.”

The circular further specifies, “However, agencies responsible for providing essential services such as basic healthcare, disaster preparedness/response, and other vital services shall continue their operations and deliver necessary services.”

The decision regarding the suspension of work in private companies and offices is left to the discretion of their respective employers.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

CEBU CITY — Workers, including Job Order (JO) employees, at the City Hall, can expect a joyous celebration this Christmas and upcoming New Year as they will receive their bonuses this week or anytime before Christmas amounting to at least P102.3 million.

On Wednesday, December 13, the Cebu City Council approved the second supplemental (SB) budget amounting to more than P240 million.

Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, who will be signing the ordinance on behalf of Mayor Michael “Mike” Rama who is on an extended vacation with his family in Australia, said he will expedite the release of the bonuses so that the City’s employees can use them for their respective Christmas celebrations.

Cebu City Budget Officer Jerone Castillo promised that they would do their best to process and release the bonus no later than December 22.

Maharlika NuMedia gathered that under the SB 2 approved by the Council, the City’s 1,345 regular employees, more than 3,000 casual employees, and elected officials will each receive P20,000 instead of the proposed P35,000; while the more than 3,000 job orders (JO) employees will receive P5,000 each instead of the proposed P10,000.

Meanwhile, one of the activities lined up in time for Rama’s return from Australia will be a party with street children in the city.

Dubbed “Pasko sa mga Batang Sugboanon,” the event will be held on December 23 at Plaza Sugbo.

(ai/mnm)