President Rodrigo R. Duterte declared Tues. as a nationwide regular holiday for the commemoration of the Eid’l Fitr.
He said the declaration aims to raise public awareness on the “religious and cultural significance” of the said Muslim holiday.
“By virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare Tuesday, 3 May, 2022, as a regular holiday throughout the country in observance of Eid’l Fitr (Feast of Ramadan),” Duterte said in his Proclamation 1356.
Muslims worldwide celebrate Eid’l Fitr to mark the end of their fasting for the holy month of Ramadan.
It is usually held on the 29th or 30th day of Ramadan depending when the moon will be sighted.
During the weekend, there was public confusion over when the Eid’l Fitr will be commemorated after the Bangsamoro Mufti finally sighted the moon last Sun. during the 29th day of Ramadan.
However, there was still no declaration of the Eid’l Fitr holiday from Malacañang at that time.
The matter was finally cleared with the issuance of Proclamation 1356, which was signed on May 1, 2022 but only released to the media the following day.
For the Eid’t Fitr this year, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Ulama Sector Commissioner Jamal Munib noted those who will celebrate it will finally be allowed to have mass gatherings.
But he reminded those who will join such gatherings to still strictly adhere to minimum health standards such as wearing of face masks to minimize the risk of spreading infections.
To note, the government started prohibiting religious mass gathering celebrations after the onset of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis in 2020.
The restriction was finally relaxed this year as Covid-19 cases nationwide started to decline.