The chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means is pushing for the passage of a measure rationalizing holidays and special holidays in the country.
In House Bill 5032, Albay Rep. Joey S. Salceda, the panel chairman, said his proposal seeks to amend Section 26, Chapter 7, Book 1 of Executive Order 292, or the Administrative Code of 1987, as amended.
Salceda said his bill aims to provide the employers a stable and more predictable environment for their business operations, saying the reduced nonworking days, which is on Asean average would also give the country more competitiveness.
The bill seeks to rationalize holidays by limiting regular holidays, which are nonworking days, to only nine. All other holidays shall be made special days, which are working days, but giving the employees an allowance of seven nonworking days to commemorate their chosen special days based on their cultural, religious and personal preference.
The measure also enjoins each local government unit to have only one local holiday by law or ordinance to commemorate its founding, heroes or fiesta in its respective territory. This essentially means two local holidays, one for province and one for the town or city.
In sum, there will be nine regular nonworking holidays, two local nonworking holidays and seven special days that would be nonworking to be agreed upon by employees and employers for a total of 18 nonworking holidays and special days.
According to Salceda, with 21 to 25 public holidays per year, the Philippines is one of the top countries in the region and among the most prolific in the world with the most holidays.
“Public holidays in the Asean average 15 holidays only per year,” he said.
“Public holidays allow the commemoration of special events and provide the people with some rest. Holidays, however, also mean nonworking days, reduced productivity, and increased labor and business costs. For some workers, this can also mean ‘no work, no pay,’” he added.
“Aside from the lower productivity, too many nonworking holidays also meant days lost for learning which is particularly aggravated by heightening impacts of climate change and other disaster risks which cause suspension of classes,” he added.
The bill said in the event the holiday or special day falls on a Wednesday, it shall be observed on the Monday of that week. If the holiday or special day falls on a Sunday, it will be observed on the Monday.
Under the bill the regular holidays and special days in the country are: New Year’s Day-January 1; Good Friday-movable date; Eid’l Fitr-movable date, Labor Day-Monday nearest May 1; Independence Day-June 12; All Saints’ Day-November 1; Bonifacio Day-November 30; Christmas Day-December 25; and Rizal Day-Monday nearest December 30.
The measure said special days are: Chinese New Year-movable date; Edsa Revolution-Monday nearest February 25 anniversary; Maundy Thursday-movable date; Eid’l Adha-movable date; Araw ng Kagitingan-Monday nearest April 9; Founding Anniversary of Iglesia ni Cristo-July 28, Ninoy Aquino Day-Monday nearest August 21, National Heroes’ Day-last Monday of August, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary-December 8, Christmas Eve-December 24, and Last Day of the Year-December 31.
The measure said the Department of Labor and Employment shall promulgate the rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this proposal within 90 days from its effectivity.