Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Honorable Dan S. Fernandez 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
We have institutionalized holidays to commemorate special events 
that have an important bearing in our cultural, religious and personal 
lives. They also provide much needed rest from work and an occasion to 
refresh and reboot ourselves from the rigors of our daily existence. 
Further, they are also a major driver in the promotion of tourism, at least 
for some people who have money to spare. 
However, holidays have not always been a boon to our people 
inasmuch as they are perceived to be generally inimical to the interest of 
the daily wage earner and they tend to lessen our nation’s productivity. 
Too many holidays also tend to diminish learning opportunities at a time 
when our policy-makers have determined that we need to recoup the “lost 
pandemic years” for our schoolchildren. Over the years, the number of 
our holidays have multiplied and it may be presumed that more will be 
added to the list in the future.  
This bill seeks to rationalize our regular holidays and special non-
working days. It aims to reduce our present number of regular holidays 
while giving room for flexibility by providing employees the option to 
choose ten (10) “special days”. This enables workers to commemorate 
only those days which are especially meaningful for them on the basis of 
their cultural, religious and personal preferences.    
Furthermore, this measure mandates local government units to 
have only two (2) local holidays to be determined by the concerned 
sanggunian. They could commemorate their fiestas, founding anniversary 
or even the lives of their illustrious citizens.  
February 20, 2023
11:23 am
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In view of all the foregoing considerations, the early approval of 
this bill is earnestly requested. 
DAN S. FERNANDEZ 
Representative 
Lone District of Santa Rosa City 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Honorable Dan S. Fernandez 
AN ACT 
RATIONALIZING REGULAR HOLIDAYS AND SPECIAL 
NON-WORKING DAYS IN THE COUNTRY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known and referred to 
as the “Holiday Rationalization Act.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to 
promote productivity and enhance competitiveness for our workers as 
well as maximize learning opportunities for our children by rationalizing 
the regular holidays and special days in the country through limiting the 
number  of non-working days in commemoration thereof in order to build 
a stronger republic that will raise the quality of life for all.   
SEC. 3. Regular Holidays. – The following regular holidays shall 
be observed in the country: 
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New Year’s Day  
- 
January 1 
Good Friday 
 
- 
Movable Date 
Eidul Fitr 
 
 
- 
Movable Date 
Labor Day  
 
- 
May 1 
Independence Day  
- 
June 12 
All Saints’ Day 
 
- 
November 1 
Bonifacio Day 
 
- 
November 30 
Christmas Day 
 
- 
December 25 
Rizal Day 
 
 
- 
December 30 
 
SEC. 4. Special Days. – Employees are hereby given the option to 
choose ten (10) special non-working days on the basis of their cultural, 
religious, and personal preferences. In the absence or in default of such a 
choice, the following special days shall apply to the employees 
concerned: 
Chinese New Year  
 
- 
Movable Date 
EDSA People Power 
 
- 
February 25 
Anniversary 
 
Maundy Thursday   
 
- 
Movable Date 
Eidul Adha  
 
 
- 
Movable Date 
Black Saturday 
 
 
- 
April 8 
Araw ng Kagitingin 
 
- 
April 9 


 
 
Ninoy Aquino Day 
 
- 
August 21 
Feast of the Immaculate  
- 
December 8 
Conception of Mary 
 
Christmas Eve 
 
 
- 
December 24 
Last Day of the Year 
 
- 
December 31 
 
SEC. 5. Local Holidays. – Each local government unit is mandated 
to have only two (2) local holidays to commemorate either its fiesta, 
founding anniversary or the life of an illustrious citizen. The local 
holidays shall be identified in a resolution of the concerned sanggunian at 
least six (6) months prior to the chosen local holiday and a copy thereof 
furnished to the Office of the President of the Philippines. 
 
SEC. 6. Non-Working Days. – The regular holidays, special days 
and local holidays stated in this Act shall be non-working days. 
 
The ten (10) special non-working days chosen by the employee 
under Section 4 of this Act shall be identified with the agreement of their 
employers. However, the employer shall respect the preference of 
employees as to their special non-working days when such preference is 
based on religious grounds.   
 
SEC. 7. Holiday Economics. – In the interest of holiday economics, 
when any regular holiday or special day falls on a Sunday, the President 
may, by Proclamation, move the commemoration thereof to the following 
Monday. 
 
SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of 
Labor and Employment shall promulgate the necessary rules and 


 
 
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within ninety (90) 
days from its effectivity. 
 
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, 
rules and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent 
with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
 
SEC. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of 
general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,