Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.__944

EXPLANATORY NOTE

There must be a law institutionalizing the celebration as a regular
national public non-working holiday of the EDSA People Power Revolution
which started on February 22, 1986 and culminated on February 25, 1986
with the popular ouster of President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. as dictator during
his marital law regime.

The law will (a) perpetuate the commemoration of the Filipino’s
triumph against the despotism and profligacy during the darkest era in
Philippine history; (b) memorialize the heroism and sufferings of the victims
and survivors of the martial law period; and (c) forego the varying degrees
of celebrations decreed by Philippine presidents to the extent of ambivalence
and negation.

The enactment of this law is earnestly urg

cli [SEL B. LAGMAN


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._944

Introduced by Rep. Cielo Krisel B. Lagman

AN ACT
DECLARING FEBRUARY 25 OF EVERY YEAR AS A REGULAR NATIONAL
PUBLIC NON-WORKING HOLIDAY IN COMMEMORATION OF THE
CULMINATION OF THE PEACEFUL EDSA PEOPLE POWER
REVOLUTION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

SECTION 1. Culmination Day of the Peaceful EDSA People Power
Revolution. - February 25 of every year is hereby declared a regular
national public non-working holiday to commemorate the popular ouster of
President Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr as the dictator of his martial law regime in
culmination of the peaceful EDSA People Power Revolution.

SEC. 2. EDSA Commission. The EDSA Commission created pursuant
to Executive Order No. 82 (s. 1999) is hereby reconstituted to plan and
implement appropriate nationwide ceremonies for the observance of
February 25 as the culmination day of the peaceful EDSA People Power
Revolution.

As reconstituted, the EDSA Commission shall be composed of the
following:

a. The Executive Secretary as Chairman;

b. As Members, the:

~ Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government;

~ Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment;

~ Chairman of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines
(CHP);

~ Chairman of the Commission of Human Rights;

~ Chairman of the Human Rights Victims Memorial Commission;

~ Chairman of the Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance
(FIND),

~ Chairman of the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFD);

- Chairman of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates
(PAHRA);

- One (1) representative from the private sector; and

~ One (1) representative fork the civil society organizations.


The representatives of the private sector and civil society organizations
shall be appointed by a majority of the Commission and shall be a known
advocate of the promotion, protection, and fulfillment of human rights and a
known advocate of the continuing celebration of the peaceful EDSA People
Power Revolution.

SEC. 3. Appropriations. The amount of at least Ten Million Pesos
(P10,000,000.00) annually shall be appropriated in the annual General
Appropriations Act (GAA) and allocated to the EDSA Commission for its
operations, together with private donations. Funds accruing to and expenses
made by the EDSA Commission shall be subject to the usual accounting
rules and procedures and audit by the Commission on Audit.

SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, orders,
issuances, rules and regulations and any part thereof inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act is hereby amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. - If any part, section, or provisions of
this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected
thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 6. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication on at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,