Senate Orders Partial Suspension Due to Habagat
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Francis Escudero has directed a partial suspension of work at the Senate on July 22 following the ongoing heavy to intense rains in Metro Manila brought by the southwest monsoon, locally called habagat. This decision aims to prioritize safety amid adverse weather conditions.
Senate Secretary Atty. Renato Bantug Jr. confirmed this announcement Monday evening, clarifying the specifics of the suspension. He emphasized that only essential Secretariat officials and employees involved in preparing for the Senate’s inaugural session and the Joint Session of Congress on July 28, 2025, are required to report for work.
Essential Staff to Report for Key Preparations
Bantug identified the heads of several Senate offices who must attend work on Tuesday. These include the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, Office of International Relations and Protocol, Public Relations and Information Bureau, and the Electronic Data Processing and Management Information System Bureau. They are tasked with ensuring their teams involved in event preparations are present.
Additionally, personnel from the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms and the Maintenance and General Services Bureau working on a shift schedule will report as usual. These employees will receive compensatory time off for their service on the suspended workday.
Other Senate Employees and Safety Precautions
All other Secretariat officials and employees are excused from reporting. Meanwhile, Senate Proper employees may need to report depending on instructions from their respective principals. This flexible approach allows departments to respond according to operational needs.
Meanwhile, local authorities and weather agencies warned that Metro Manila and nearby provinces such as Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, and Occidental Mindoro could continue to experience heavy rains through Wednesday due to the habagat.
Community Alerts and Preparedness
Residents are urged to remain vigilant against flooding in urban, low-lying, or river-adjacent areas. Similarly, landslide risks remain high in susceptible zones. Local leaders advise everyone to take necessary precautions to stay safe during the persistent downpour.
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