Palace allows govt employees to go home early

Malacañang on Friday allowed government employees to go home starting 1:00 p.m. because of bad weather conditions brought by tropical storm "Falcon" (international code name Meari). However, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said the order does not cover government personnel offering basic and emergency services, radio dzBB's Tuesday Niu reported. Those not allowed to take the half-day off included social welfare and hospital workers, law enforcers, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority personnel, as well as disaster management personnel, the report said. Earlier, the Quezon City government allowed its employees Friday to leave work early due to bad weather conditions brought by tropical storm "Falcon" (Meari). However, the city government also ordered that skeletal forcees stay at key posts including disaster response, radio dzBB reported. Rains brought by "Falcon" pummeled and flooded several parts of Metro Manila, including Quezon City, since Thursday night. Classes at the preschool, elementary and high school were ordered suspended in Metro Manila and several areas in Luzon for Friday. Meanwhile, the report said the Quezon City government ordered skeletal forces, especially disaster management teams, to remain on duty. - VVP, GMA News