Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

5032
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative JOEY SARTE SALCEDA

AN ACT
RATIONALIZING HOLIDAYS AND SPECIAL DAYS,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 26, CHAPTER 7,
BOOK 1 OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 292, OTHERWISE KNOWN
AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF 1987, AS AMENDED

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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.”

With twenty-one (21) to twenty-five (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 Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) average
fifteen (15) holidays only per year.

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.

While Congress has exercised some restraint in further increasing the many holidays
in our country, particularly those that are nonworking, we need to do more to improve our
holiday policy to expand our nation’s productivity and increase our competitiveness.

This bill, therefore, proposes to rationalize holidays by limiting regular holidays, which
are nonworking days, to seven (8) only. All other holidays shall be made special days, which
are working days, but giving the employees an allowance of seven (7) nonworking days to
commemorate their chosen special days based on their cultural, religious, and personal
preference. Special days have been expanded to include Chinese New Year, EDSA Revolution
Anniversary, Founding Anniversary of the Iglesia ni Cristo, and Nativity of the Blessed Virgin
Mary. In this way, we are embracing our country’s diversity and public holidays can be more
meaningful for the individual based on his or her choice.


Furthermore, this bill also enjoins each local government unit to have only one (1) local
holiday by law or ordinance to commemorate its founding, heroes, or fiesta in its respective
territory. This essentially means 2 local holidays, 1 for province and I for the town or city.

In sum, there will be 9 regular nonworking holidays, 2 local nonworking holidays and
7 special days that would be nonworking to be agreed upon by employees and employers for
a total of 18 nonworking holidays and special days.

This bill aims to provide the employers a stable and more predictable environment for
their business operations. The reduced nonworking days, which is on the ASEAN average, will
also give the country more competitiveness. At the same time, the concept of holiday
economics, except for holidays or special days requiring a specific date of commemoration,
has been retained in this bill to further encourage tourism and benefit the economy during the
planned holidays.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly soug!



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5032

Introduced by Representative JOEY SARTE SALCEDA

AN ACT
RATIONALIZING HOLIDAYS AND SPECIAL DAYS,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 26, CHAPTER 7,
BOOK 1 OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 292, OTHERWISE KNOWN
AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF 1987, AS AMENDED

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Holiday Rationalization
Act of 2019.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ Itis hereby declared the policy of the State to expand
productivity and promote competitiveness by rationalizing the holidays and special days in the
Philippines and limiting the number of nonworking days in commemoration thereof in order
to build a stronger and more productive economy that will raise the quality of life for all.

SEC. 3. Amendment. — Section 26, Chapter 7, Book 1 of Executive Order No. 292,
otherwise known as the Administrative Code of 1987, as amended, is hereby amended to read

as follows:

“SEC. 26. [Regular] Holidays and [Nationwide] Special Days. ~

(1) Unless otherwise modified by law, order, or proclamation, the following
[regular] holidays and special days shall be observed in the country:
(a) Regular Holidays


New Year’s Day = January 1
[Maundy Phursday——____—Movable Date]
Good Friday - Movable Date
Eidul Fitr - Movable Date
[Eidul Ade —____________Movable Date
ae ¥ wh

(Bataan-and Corregidor Day)]
Labor Day - Monday nearest May 1
Independence Day - June 12
[National Heroes Day Last Monday of August]
ALL SAINTS’ DAY - NOVEMBER 1
Bonifacio Day = November 30
Christmas Day - December 25
Rizal Day = Monday nearest December 30

(b) [Nationwide] Special [Holidays] DAYS
CHINESE NEW YEAR - — MOVABLE DATE
EDSA REVOLUTION - = MONDAY NEAREST

FEBRUARY 25
ANNIVERSARY
MAUNDY THURSDAY - MOVABLE DATE
EIDUL ADHA - MOVABLE DATE
ARAW NG KAGITINGAN - MONDAY NEAREST
APRIL 9
(BATAAN AND CORREGIDOR DAY)
FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY - — JULY 28
OF THE IGLESIA NI CRISTO
Ninoy Aquino Day - Monday nearest August 21
NATIONAL HEROES DAY- _ LAST MONDAY OF AUGUST
All Saints Day —————Nevember-+
NATIVITY OF THE -  DECEMBER8
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
CHRISTMAS EVE - DECEMBER 24
Last Day of the Year - December 31

(c) LOCAL HOLIDAYS
EACH LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT IS ENJOINED TO HAVE
ONLY ONE (1) LOCAL HOLIDAY BY LAW OR ORDINANCE


TO COMMEMORATE ITS FOUNDING, HEROES, OR FIESTA
IN ITS RESPECTIVE TERRITORY, WHICH SHALL BE
CONTAINED IN A RESOLUTION OF THE CORRESPONDING
SANGGUNIAN BY AT LEAST SIX (6) MONTHS PRIOR TO
THE CHOSEN LOCAL HOLIDAY AND SHALL BE COPY
FURNISHED TO THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT.

(4) REGULAR HOLIDAYS AND LOCAL HOLIDAYS SHALL BE
NONWORKING DAYS. SPECIAL DAYS SHALL BE WORKING
DAYS, BUT THE EMPLOYEES ARE HEREBY GIVEN AN
ALLOWANCE OF SEVEN (7) NONWORKING DAYS TO
COMMEMORATE THEIR CHOSEN SPECIAL DAYS AS
AGREED WITH THEIR EMPLOYERS. IN AGREEING TO
SPECIAL DAYS AS NONWORKING DAYS, THE EMPLOYERS
SHALL GIVE DUE CONSIDERATION TO THE CULTURAL,
RELIGIOUS, AND PERSONAL PREFERENCE OF THEIR
EMPLOYEES.

(¢) FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR, THE 7 SPECIAL DAYS TO BE
DETERMINED AS NON-WORKING SHALL BE MADE BY THE
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

() FOR THE PURPOSE OF HOLIDAY ECONOMICS, EXCEPT
WHEN THE HOLIDAY OR SPECIAL DAY REQUIRES A
SPECIFIC DATE OF COMMEMORATION, In the event the
holiday OR SPECIAL DAY falls on a Wednesday, [the-holiday] IT
will be observed on the Monday of that week. If the holiday OR
SPECIAL DAY falls on a Sunday, [the holiday] IT will be observed
on the Monday that follows:

Provided, That for movable holidays OR SPECIAL DAYS, the

President shall issue a proclamation, at least six (6) months prior to the

holiday concerned, the specific date THEREFOR [shall-be-deelared
,

SEC. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE) shall promulgate the rules and regulations to implement the provisions
of this Act within ninety (90) days from its effectivity.


SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or other
issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 6. Effectivity. ~ This Act shall take effect in the beginning of next year following
the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general

circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,