THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
'04 
SENATE 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
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I 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Official non-working days are eagerly being looked forward to by employees of 
government and private firms --sometimes even at a more enthusiastic fashion than 
their natal days. These vacation days offer them not only freedom, however fleeting, 
from the boredom of routine jobs, but also a time to attend to personal business 
matters. They also provide them ample time to share precious moments with their 
loved ones as family activities and gatherings are usually set on these dates. 
It has been an observed and validated fact, however, that when these holidays fall on 
Tuesdays and Thursdays, the tendency of employees is that they will no longer go to 
work on the Monday preceding the Tuesday non-working day and on the Friday 
following a Thursday holiday. This is based on the misplaced notion that the workers 
might as well absent themselves on those days so as to enjoy as "extended vacation 
extravaganza' which stretches over the week-end. This invariably results to a decrease 
in the production output of these workers because of the "intentional absences" 
incurred during working days sandwiched between a non-working day and a weekend. 
Furthermore, work continuity is Harmfully affected by this anomalous practice in both 
the public and private sectors. 
In this light, this measure proposes that all official non-working days should be 
mandatorily scheduled such that they will either fall on a Monday or a Friday. This 
will address the problem of "intentional absenteeism" of workers and will therefore 
positively impact oil productivity. The longer breaks are also expected to promote 
domestic tourism and the health of the workers by giving their more time for their 
personal and recreational needs. 
Hence, the immediate and favorable passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THF 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
J 
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INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
AN ACT 
MONDAY OR A FRIDAY 
DECLARING ALL OFFICIAL NON-WORKING DAYS TO FALL EITHER ON A 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. All official nor.-working days except New Year's Day, Christmas 
Day and Independence Day shall be scheduled to fall either on a Monday or a Friday. 
The terms "official non-working days" as used in this Act shall include those 
days duly declared and recognized by the government of the Republic of tile 
Philippines wherein employees of both the public and private sectors are privileged not 
to attend work because of a national, international or traditional observance or 
celebration. 
SEC. 2. For the purpose of scheduling the official non-working days, the 
a. When the holiday should fall on a Tuesday or Wednesday, the non-working 
day shall be scheduled on the Monday of the same week. 
b. When the holiday should fall on a Thursday, the lion-working day shall be 
scheduled on tile Friday of the same week. 
following guidelines shall be followed: 
SEC: 3. All laws, decrees, orders, rules, regulations and other Issuances or 
parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed 
SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. 
Approved,