MANILA - Malacañang on Monday announced the suspension of work in state colleges and universities and other agencies under the executive branch on January 2, 2019.

In Memorandum Circular No. 54 signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Dec. 17, “work in government offices throughout the country, including government-owned or -controlled corporations, government financial institutions, state universities and colleges, local government units, and other agencies and instrumentalities, is here by suspended on 2 January 2019.”

Malacanang, nagdeklara ng work suspension sa gobyerno sa Jan. 2, 2019 @DZMMTeleRadyo pic.twitter.com/OsgS5T892D

— Joyce Balancio (@joycebalancio) December 17, 2018

The suspension seeks to give government employees “full opportunity to celebrate” the New Year’s Day (January 1) holiday, which falls on a Tuesday.

“However, those agencies whose functions involve the delivery of basic and health services, preparedness/response to disaster s and calamities, and/or performance of other vital services shall continue with their operations and render the necessary services,” the memorandum reads.

The suspension of work on the same date in other branches of government and independent commissions or bodies, as well as in private companies and offices, is left to the discretion of their respective heads/management, the memorandum states.