NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. SANCHO FERNANDO “ANDO” F. OAMINAL 
AN ACT 
DECLARING DECEMBER 24 AND 31 A NON-WORKING HOLIDAY. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines is renowned as a country that puts a premium on celebrating the Christmas season. This season 
spans as early as September and ends in the early week of January in the following year. All over the world, 
Filipinos are known to celebrate Christmas the longest. Every year, almost every city, town, and even 
establishments across our country go to great lengths to guarantee that the celebration of the Yuletide season 
becomes a platform and opportunity to bring the people closer as a family.  
This is so because, in our scheme of Republic, the Philippines is well aware that the best medium in instilling 
values and shaping the future generations is through the family. This fact is echoed not only in the hallowed walls 
of every academic institution but also in the supreme law of our land. Hence, it is an avowed policy of the state 
to support the natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the 
development of moral character.1  
With today’s work demands, compounded by the worsening traffic situation, a Filipino employee’s time to spend 
with his/her family is significantly diminished. Incidentally, they only fulfill one of the most essential of their 
familial obligations during holidays, such as spending time with their family members.  
For employees whose families live in the countryside, however, spending time fundamentally equates to few and 
far between “get-togethers” since their short break will likewise be dependent on the length of their day-offs due 
to the time they have to allocate for their long travel home.  
Given these and the meaning of Christmas celebrations in the Philippines, it is high time for us to institutionalize 
more opportunities for Filipino employees to spend time with their families. This way, preparing and/or equipping 
the youth to become effective partners in nation-building as they take on their mantles in society through constant 
inculcation of values will be easier. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
SANCHO FERNANDO “ANDO” F. OAMINAL 
Representative 
2nd District of Misamis Occidental 
1 Constitution, (1987), Article II, Section 12 (Phil.). 
July 20, 2022
4:56 pm
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. SANCHO FERNANDO “ANDO” F. OAMINAL 
AN ACT 
DECLARING DECEMBER 24 AND 31 A NON-WORKING HOLIDAY. 
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 “Family Holidays Act of 2022”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policies. In accordance to our Constitution, it is the policy of the 
state: 
1. To promote and protect the physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being of 
the youth as it recognizes their vital role in nation building;2 
2. To protect the rights of workers, promote their welfare, and affirm labor as a primary social
economic force; and3
3. For the government to support the natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing
of the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character as it recognizes the
sanctity of family life.4
SECTION 3. Family Holidays. The 24th and the 31st day of December is hereby declared as a 
special e-signon-working holidays for all employees of the government, private institutions, 
including foreign and offshore corporations operating or doing business within the territorial 
jurisdiction of the Philippines. 
SECTION 4. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication 
in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
2 Constitution, (1987), Article II, Section 13 (Phil.). 
3 Constitution, (1987), Article II, Section 18 (Phil.). 
4 Constitution, (1987), Article II, Section 12 (Phil.). 
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