PHILSTAR

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has declared June 24 a special nonworking holiday in Manila to mark the capital’s 450th anniversary.

The holiday would give residents of the Philippine capital the “full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” according to a proclamation signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea last week.

The celebration would still be subject to community quarantine, social distancing and other public health measures amid a coronavirus.

Manila is one of the 17 cities and municipality in the capital region, which accounts for a third of the country’s economic output. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza