• CHERY G. CRUZ
Malacañang has identified the regular holidays and special non-working days for next year.
Proclamation No. 368, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin Oct. 11 and made public this morning, Oct. 13, said the Department of Labor and Employment shall implement the guidelines for the proclamation.
The regular holidays include Jan. 1, New Year’s Day; March 28, Maundy Thursday; March 29, Good Friday; April 9, Araw ng Kagitingan; May 1, Labor Day; June 12, Independence Day; Aug. 26, National Heroes Day (last Monday of August); Nov. 30, Bonifacio Day; Dec. 25, Christmas Day, and Dec. 30, Rizal Day.
The special (non-working) days are Aug. 21, Ninoy Aquino Day; Nov. 1, All Saints’ Day; Dec. 8, Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, and Dec. 31, last day of the year.
Additional special (non-working) days are Feb. 10, Chinese New Year; March 30, Black Saturday; Nov. 2, All Souls’ Day, and Dec. 24, Christmas Eve.
“The proclamations declaring the national holidays for the observance of Eid’l Fitr and Eid’l Adha shall be issued after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar (Hijra) or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, whichever is possible or convenient,” the Proclamation stated.
The Office of the President (OP), meanwhile, explained why the commemoration of the EDSA People Power Revolution was not included in the list of special non-working days for 2024.
In a statement released by the Presidential Communications Office, the EDSA People Power observance on Feb. 25 falls on a Sunday.
“There is minimal socio-economic impact in declaring this day as a special non-working holiday since it coincides with the rest day for most workers and laborers,” the OP said. | CGC
