2 weeks ago
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CEBU CITY — Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia defended his decision in not declaring a special non-working holiday here on Feb. 25, 2025, keeping students in class when other local governments in the province suspended classes for the 39th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.
Garcia cited the national policies and the absence of directives from higher authorities as the basis for his decision.
"There was no recommendation coming from [disaster management authorities]," he said.
"If you talk about the holiday, there was already communication coming from the higher-ups in Manila. So, there was really no reason for me to declare no classes because there was really no basis," he added.
He stressed that EDSA is a special working holiday, and school administrators, not the mayor, hold the authority to cancel classes.
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"It didn't come from me. It came from them. It was their own assessment," he added.
While Garcia kept Cebu City's schools open, neighboring LGUs took a different stance.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan suspended face-to-face classes, allowing students to shift to modular learning.
Officials in Mandaue and Talisay City also canceled in-person classes, though government offices remained operational. Several universities also chose to mark the day.
The University of the Philippines Cebu suspended work and classes, while Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion cited the event's historical significance in canceling academic activities.
When asked if the EDSA People Power Revolution remains relevant today, Garcia sidestepped the question.
"It depends on who you ask. I beg off commenting from that," he said.
The EDSA uprising, which led to the fall of then-president Marcos in 1986, remains a symbol of democracy for many Filipinos.
