TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No.
ibenate
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25 AUG P4:3i
KtCETi/EI lY:
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Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
DECLARING JULY 27 OF EVERY YEAR A SPECIAL NATIONAL NONWORKING 
HOLIDAY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9645, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "COMMEMORATION OF THE FOUNDING 
ANNIVERSARY OF IGLESIA NI CRISTO ACT"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Religious freedom in the Philippines promoted the growth of many religious 
groups in the country. The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) is one of these groups. It was 
founded on July 27, 1914 by Brother Felix Y. Manalo, the first Executive Minister of 
the Iglesia ni Cristo. The INC's first lokalor local congregation was located in Punta, 
Santa Ana, Manila. According to the 2015 Philippine Statistics Authority Census on 
Population and Housing, the INC is the third largest religious affinity in the country 
with 2.6 million Filipinos reported Iglesia Ni Cristo as their religious affiliation.
Since its establishment, the Iglesia ni Cristo has grown from one local 
congregation in Manila to around 5,000 places of worship worldwide. This is clearly a 
strong testament not only to the INC's growth as a religious sector in our society, but 
a manifestation as well of the strength of the Filipino people's faith.
The dynamic and disciplined leadership of the Iglesia ni Cristo and its members 
have made it a role model for other religious organizations. Attending not only to the 
religious needs of its members, the Iglesia ni Cristo also looks after the society in


general through various projects such as outreach programs particularly for calamity 
victims and indigents, housing programs, livelihood projects to provide income 
opportunities to both members and non-members, medical-dental missions and blood 
donation drives through the New Era General Hospital, and education through the 
New Era University.
The intention of this bill is to declare the 27th day of July of every year as a 
special working holiday in observance of the founding anniversary of the Iglesia ni 
Cristo.
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
GGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. No. 1 079
ef t()? fe.-rrrtsr/
25 KK P4 39
nrrEivEiiY;
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
DECLARING JULY 27 OF EVERY YEAR A SPECIAL NATIONAL NONWORKING 
HOLIDAY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9645, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "COMMEMORATION OF THE FOUNDING 
ANNIVERSARY OF IGLESIA NI CRISTO ACT"
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 9645 is hereby amended to read as
2 
follows:
3 
"Sec. 3. National Holiday. - July 27 of every year is
4 
hereby declared as a special national [working]
5 
NONWORKING holiday in commemoration of the founding
6 
anniversary of the Iglesia ni Cristo in the Philippines."
7 
Sec. 2. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
8 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or
9 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended
10 
accordingly.
11 
Sec. 3. Effectivlty Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
12 
following its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
13 
circulation.
Approved,