Malacañang to end work early on Sept. 22 for Family Week

Malacañang and the Senate have declared a half-day work schedule on Monday, September 22, to mark the 33rd National Family Week and “Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga” Day, allowing officials and employees more time to spend with their families.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin Jr., by authority of the President, signed Memorandum Circular No. 96, suspending work in government offices under the Executive branch starting at 1 p.m.

This directive is pursuant to Proclamation No. 60 (s. 1992), which designates every last week of September as Family Week.

Complementing this is the observance of “Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga” Day every fourth Monday of September, as declared under Proclamation No. 326 (s. 2012).

The memorandum stated, however, that agencies tasked with providing essential services, such as health care, disaster response, and other vital services, will continue their operations.

“This Office also encourages all government workers in the Executive branch to fully support the programs and activities relative to the observance of Family Week, as organized by the National Committee on the Filipino Family,” the memorandum read.

It also urged other branches of government, independent bodies, and even the private sector to suspend work to give Filipino families the opportunity to fully celebrate the 33rd National Family Week.

Following this, Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr., on September 20, upon the instruction of Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, released an advisory that work in the upper chamber of the Legislative branch on September 22 would end at 1 p.m. to observe “Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga” Day.

“Senate President Sotto lI, in consultation with the Members of the Senate and in accordance with Rule XIV, Section 41 (a) of the Rules of the Senate, has also instructed that the plenary session shall resume on Tuesday, 23 September 2025, at 3:00 p.m.,” the advisory read.

The directive also clarified that employees on shifting schedules, such as personnel in the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms and the Maintenance and General Services Bureau, are not covered by the shortened work hours.