Malacañang has declared special non-working days in Cebu City and Mandaue until May 8 to support the country’s hosting of the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto signed Proclamation No. 1239, amending an earlier proclamation that initially covered only Lapu-Lapu and the municipality of Cordova.
Under the revised proclamation, Cebu City and Mandaue City were included in the suspension of work due to their role as identified transport routes and key areas for ASEAN delegates attending the regional summit.
The proclamation stated that the declaration was necessary to ease traffic congestion and help authorities ensure the security and safety of summit participants during the event.
The ASEAN, founded in Bangkok, Thailand in 1967, is composed of member-states including the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Timor-Leste.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said the Philippines, as this year’s ASEAN chair, would push for stronger cooperation on energy security, food security, and the protection of Asian nationals abroad, particularly in light of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.