MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Jan. 5 (PIA) — Personnel from the city local government unit here who wish to be in Tacloban for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis will be on official time, City Mayor Maloney Samaco declared.
“While it cannot be done on official business, we can consider it on official time, and we will just look for somebody who can give us certificates of appearance,” Mayor Samaco said on Dydm prime time news over the weekend
Pope Francis is scheduled to be in Tacloban next week, January 17, a Saturday, but for those who will be going ahead – since the holiday declarations for Thursday and Friday, January 15 and 16, respectively, are limited only to the National Capital Region (NCR) – hence the idea to make it on official time, Samaco explained.
He himself, with his family, will be already in Tacloban on January 16, Samaco said, adding that it was a personal schedule, and not in coordination with other city officials or heads of offices.
Meanwhile, Samaco said he was glad to know there was zero injury in the city with regards to firecracker-related burns and accidents at the height of the revelry celebration welcoming the New Year.
The new provincial hospital at barangay Dongon also had not received any similar cases of firecracker emergencies, a record maintained for three consecutive years, it was learned. (ajc/mmp/PIA8-Southern Leyte)
