US Embassy to remain open on Oct 25

October 25 may be a non-working holiday due to the barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections, but the United States Embassy in Manila will remain open on that day. In an entry on its Facebook page, the US Embassy also said it will have regular working hours on election day. "The U.S. Embassy Manila will be open with regular working hours on Monday, October 25, 2010," it said (http://www.facebook.com/manila.usembassy). Malacañang earlier declared October 25 as a non-working holiday under Proclamation Number 48. Signed October 6 by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., the proclamation said it is "imperative that the people be given the fullest opportunity to participate in the said elections and exercise their right to vote." On Monday, voters will elect one barangay chairman; one SK chairman; seven Sangguniang Barangay members, and seven SK members. Around 672,400 elective posts in 42,025 barangays are expected to be filled after the local polls. –VVP, GMANews.TV