Government men to have longer vacation

All government offices will have only a half-day’s work on April 11, Holy Wednesday, to kick off a long Lenten break, Malacañang announced yesterday.

Presidential Spokesman Renato Corona said the shortened work day will give workers more time to be with their families and provide greater convenience to those traveling to the provinces.

"We have no authority over private firms so we can only suspend work in government offices. The half-day suspension will give our government workers a longer Holy Week," he said.

The official holiday break begins April 12, Maundy Thursday, and will run up to April 15, Easter Sunday. "Araw ng Kagitingan" on April 9, Monday, is also a public holiday.

However, Corona clarified that there will be work in all government offices on April 10, Tuesday.

He assured the public that throughout the long break, government offices providing emergency services will remain open.

"As usual, there will be a skeletal workforce at the Palace. Our mobile phones will be on," he said.

Corona, concurrent presidential chief of staff, said he is not aware yet of President Arroyo’s Holy Week schedule.

Mrs. Arroyo earlier said she would spend the Lenten break preparing her first State of the Nation Address scheduled for the next Congress in July.

Corona, for his part, said he traditionally spends the Holy Week in Manila enjoying the traffic-less metropolis. — Marichu Villanueva