President Marcos is suspending work in government offices on March 27 (Wednesday) from 12 noon onwards to give its employees “full opportunity” to observe Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, the Presidential Communications Office said.
Mr. Marcos ordered this through Memorandum Circular No. 45 signed on his behalf by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Monday.
It also intends to allow government workers “to travel to and from the different regions in the country, work in government offices.”
Meanwhile, President Marcos also expressed support for Catherine, Princess of Wales, who earlier announced that she had been diagnosed with cancer and was in early stages of chemotherapy.
Mr. Marcos took to social media on Monday to send his well wishes to Catherine, joining world leaders, celebrities and the public in cheering the British princess, wife of Crown Prince William.
“The Filipino people have Catherine, the Princess of Wales, in our thoughts and prayers throughout this challenging time,” Mr. Marcos said in an X (formerly Twitter) post.
“We pray for her good health and continued healing, and for the strength of her family during this difficult period,” he added.
In a video message posted on March 23, Catherine, 42, revealed to the world that she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy.
Catherine said her diagnosis came as a “huge shock” to her family, and appealed for “time, space and privacy” following concerns and rumors about her health and whereabouts after she stepped off from public sight for months.
Also, President Marcos and First Lady First Lady Marie Louise Araneta-Marcos have completely recovered from their flu-like symptoms and are now in excellent health, the PCO announced Monday.
In a statement, the PCO said the First Couple’s attending physician has confirmed “that they are free from all symptoms, enabling them to promptly return to their regular duties, effective immediately.”
“The President has been in meetings today and will resume his public duties tomorrow,” the statement read.
The first couple last week were ordered to rest by their doctor after experiencing flu-like symptoms shortly after their official trips to Germany, the Czech Republic, and Australia.