Palace suspends gov’t work within PICC Complex from Nov. 8-15

Malacañang has suspended work in all government offices located within the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Complex from November 8 to 15 for the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits. (Photo By Official Gazette of the Philippines, Public Domain)

MANILA — Malacañang has suspended work in all government offices located within the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Complex from November 8 to 15 for the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits.

The order was made through Memorandum Circular No. 32 that was signed on Monday by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea by authority of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“To ensure the uninterrupted delivery of public service on November 8-12, transactions with front line government offices located inside the PICC may be processes in other business or satellite offices of the said affected agencies,” the order read.

Earlier, Duterte declared November 13 to 15 as special non-working holidays in the whole of Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga for the ASEAN Summit.

The Philippines is this year’s chair of ASEAN, whose other members include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

World leaders from the regional bloc’s dialogue partners, including Australia, Canada, China, European Union (EU), India, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and the United States are expected to arrive for the summit.