SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 8 9 3 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The authority to declare local holidays, whether working or non-working, is 
presently vested with the Congress of the Philippines or the President. 
The 
Administrative Code of the Philippines provides that, "The President may 
proclaim any local special day for a particular date, group or place." However, 
the authority of the President appears to be limited. It lacks permanence, thus, 
declaration need to be made yearly. 
In order for the local government unit (LGU) concerned to celebrate 
working or non-working holidays on a regular basis, the declaration has to be 
done by Congress. However, since the proposal has to go through the whole 
legislative process, it normally takes some time to enact laws declaring local 
holidays. 
There are times that preparations had already been made to 
commemorate a significant event, except the law which declares it a public 
holiday in the locality concerned. 
To address the foregoing concerns, this bill seeks to empower the LGUs 
to declare holiday in their respective jurisdictions, subject to certain guidelines 
provided therein. 
Congress however, is not precluded from declaring non-
working or special working days covering two or more provinces and those 
covering one or more cities or municipalities that are not part of just one 
province. 
The proposed measure is intended to unclog the legislative mill of bills 
where the subject matter can be appropriately delegated to the local Sanggunian 
to legislate. Thus, Congress would be given ample time to tackle more urgent 
legislative proposals. 
In view of foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 893 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
AUTHORIZING THE SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN, SANGGUNIANG 
PANLUNGSOD OR SANGGUNIANG BAYAN, TO DECLARE WORKING OR 
NON-WORKING SPECIAL HOLIDAYS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE LOCALITIES 
TO 
COMMEMORATE 
SIGNIFICANT 
HISTORIC 
EVENTS 
PROVIDING 
GUIDELINES THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
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 "Local 
Holidays Act of 2013". 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the 
State that the territorial and political subdivisions shall enjoy genuine, true and 
meaningful autonomy to enable them to attain their fullest development as self-
reliant communities and as effective partners in the attainment of national goals. 
Towards this end, the local government units herein provided shall exercise the 
power, to ensure and support the preservation and enrichment of their local 
culture and history. 
Thus, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Sangguniang 
Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan shall be authorized to declare working or 
non-working special holidays to commemorate local historical events and 
memorable dates in the creation and existence of their localities. 
SEC. 3. Authority to Declare Working and Non-Working Holidays. -
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang 
Bayan is hereby authorized to declare, by ordinance, working or non-working 
special holidays to commemorate significant historic events in their respective 
locality, subject to the guidelines provided under this Act and upon prior 
consultation with the National Historical Institute (NHI) and the Department of 
Labor and Employment (DOLE). 
SEC. 4. 
Guidelines for the Declaration of Non-Working Public 
Holiday. -
The Sanggunian shall observe the following guidelines when 
declaring holidays within their respective locality: 
(a) there must be prior certification by the NHI as to the historical 
significance of the occasion; 


(b) there must be prior consultation with the DOLE as to the economic 
viability of the holiday; 
(c) the Sangguniang Panlalawigan shall have the authority to declare one 
non-working holiday covering the entire province or in more than one of 
its component cities or municipalities. In no case shall the Sangguniang 
Panlalawigan declare more than one non-working holiday in any of its 
component cities or municipalities; 
(d) the Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan in the city or 
municipality, as the case may be, shall have the authority to declare one 
non-working holiday in the city or municipality concerned or in more than 
one of its component barangays. 
In no case shall the Sangguniang 
Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan declare more than one non-working 
holiday in any of its component barangays; 
(e) existing local non-working holidays will continue to be observed until 
otherwise changed, discontinued, or reduced by the local Sanggunian 
concerned, provided that no change shall be effected within ten (10) 
years and by % vote of the members of the Sanggunian concerned; 
(f) 
local Sanggunian in provinces, .cities and municipalities with at least one 
special non-working holiday already existing stlall no longer have the 
authority to declare an additional special non-working day, except to 
exercise the prerogative specified in paragraph (e) hereof. 
SEC. 5. Authority to Declare Special Working Holidays. - The local 
Sanggunian including the Sangguniang Barangay may declare as many special 
working holidays as they deem appropriate. 
SEC. 6. Authority of Congress to Declare Working and Non-Working 
Holiday. - Congress shall continue to declare working and non-working special 
holidays covering two or more provinces and one or more cities or municipalities 
that are not part of such provinces. 
SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, preSidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, 
modified or amended accordingly. 
SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,