Palace to schools, gov't offices in NCR, Luzon areas: Shift to alternative modes on Aug.19

Malacañang on Tuesday instructed schools and government offices in the National Capital Region and other areas affected by the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat to shift to alternative work arrangements on Wednesday, August 19.

In Memorandum Circular 129, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council recommended the alternate work setup as continuous heavy rainfall was expected.

“Unless otherwise directed by their respective Local Chief Executives, alternative learning modes for classes and learning continuity measures at all levels in public and private schools shall be implemented in the aforementioned areas,” Recto wrote.

The memo covers schools and government offices in the following areas:

• National Capital Region (Metro Manila)
• Abra
• Benguet
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• Bataan
• Bulacan
• Nueva Ecija
• Pampanga
• Tarlac
• Zambales
• Batangas
• Cavite
• Laguna
• Rizal
• Occidental Mindoro
• Oriental Mindoro

School suspensions will be left to local chief executives, the memo added.

The Palace said that agencies involved in the delivery of basic health services and disaster response must continue operations.

Meanwhile, contract of service and job order workers shall be paid their corresponding wages, the memorandum said.

The suspension of work in private firms will be left to their respective management heads. —RF, GMA News