THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPuBLlC ) 
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1 
Second Regular Session 
OF THE PHlLIPPlWES 
SENATE 
S.B.No. - 
2119 
SEP 14 All :I 9 
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Introduced by Senator Arroyo 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The spate of sudden announcements of special non-working holidays recently has 
provoked a lot of discussion. There are coinplaints that because of the suddenness of the 
announcement, business, employees, students, professionals and the public in general 
camot plan beforehand what they would like to do during that particular day and this 
deEeats the very spirit of why holidays are celebrated 
‘The bill seelcs to rationalize, institutionalize, and provide the guidelines for the 
dates of the celebration of holidays. 
The Regular Holidays and Nationwide Special Days beiiig presently observed in 
the Philippines are provided under Executive Order No. 203 and Executive Order No. 
292, otherwise lcnown as the “Administrative Code of 1987”, as amended by Republic 
Act No. 9177, to wit: 
A. ‘‘Re&% Holidavs 
New Year’s Day 
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January 1 
Mauiidy Thursday 
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Movable Date 
Good Friday 
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Movable Date 
Eidul Fitr 
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 Movable Date 
h a w  ng Icagitingan 
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April 9 
(Bataan and Corregidor Day) 
Labor Day 
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May 1 
Independence Day 
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June 12 
Bonifacio Day 
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November 30 
Christmas Day 
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December 25 
‘Rizal Day 
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December 30 
Natioiia1;H;roes Day 
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Last Sunday of August 
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3. NatTonwide S6ecld-Davs 
Ninoy Aquino Day 
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August 2 1 
All Saints Day 
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November 1 
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Last-Day of the Year 
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December 3 1” 


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In suln, there are eleven (1 1) national regular holidays and three (3) nationwide 
special days mandatorily observed in the Philippines. However, whenever a national 
holiday occurs on a Tuesday or Thursday, the goverivnent has the tendency to declare the 
-. -day smdwiched between the weekend and the holiday a special non-working holiday. 
Thus;the na%lxer of Kon-wo&Cng holidays are unnecessarily increased. 
Under the proposed measure, holidays with a fixed date, shall be limited to four 
(4), nanlely, New Year’s Day, January 1; All Saint’s Day, November 1; Christmas Day, 
- --December 25;. and the last dzy of the year, December 31. Maundy Thursday, Good 
Friday,-and Eidul Fitr have always been and shall remain movable dates. The remdning 
holidays shall also have movable dates and shall be observed on the Monday or Friday 
nearest the original date of the holiday, to wit: Araw ng Kagitingan (Bataan and 
Corregidor Day), Monday or Friday nearest April 9; Labor Day, Monday or Friday 
nearest May 1; Independence Day, Monday or Friday nearest June 12; Ninoy Aquino 
August; Bonifacio Day, Monday or Friday nearest November 30; and Rizal Day, Monday 
or Friday nearest December 30. In the event the holiday falls on a Wednesday, the 
hoiiday will be observed on the Monday of that week. If the hoIiday falls on a Sunday, 
the holiday will be observed on the Monday that follows. There will be continuity of 
non-working days when certain holiday take place but the number of non-working days 
will rieilher be increased nor decreased. 
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Day, Monday or Friday nearest August 21; National Heroes’ Day, Last Monday of 
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In view of the foregoing, the passage of the bill is earnestly requested. 


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- - THLRTEENTH-CONGRESS QF THE REPUBLIC > 
5 $ P I 4  
AI1:IP 
OF THE! PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Arroyo 
AN ACT 
IZATIONALIZENG 
THE 
CELEBRATION OP 
NATIONAL 
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AMENDING FOR TDX PURPOSE SECTION 26, CHAPTER 7, BOOK I OF 
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 292, AS MENDED, OTBUERWSE KNOWN AS TEE 
ADMJNISTIRATIVE CODE OF 1987 
SECTION 1. Section 26, Chapter 7, Book I of Executive Order No. 292, as 
amended, otherwise known as the Administrative Code of 1987, is hereby amended to 
read as follows: 
"SEC. 26. Regular Holidays and Nationwide Special Days. 41) 
Unless otherwise modified by law, order or proclamation, the following 
regular holidays and special days shall be observed in the country: 
a. Regular Holidays 
New Year's Day 
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Maundy Th_ursday 
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Good Friday 
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Eidul Fitr 
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Araw ng Kagitingan 
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(Bataan and Corregidor Day) 
LaborDay- 
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-Intlepend&ceDay- 
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National Heroes Day 
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Bonifacio Day 
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Christmas Day 
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Rizal Day 
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January 1 
Movable Date 
Movable Date 
Movable Date 
MONDAY OR F 
April 9 
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OR 
May 1 
June 12 
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NEAREST\ 
Last [Sunday] 
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MONDAY 0 
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December 25 
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November30 
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December 30 
b. Nationwide Special Holidays 
All Saints Day 
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November 1 
Last Day of the Year 
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December 3 1 


C. IN TEW EVENT TBE HQLIDAY FAFLS ON A ~
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OF T m T  
HOLUDAY ‘WILL BE O ~ S E ~ V E ~  
ON 
\V&L BE OBSERVED ON TEE ~ ~ O ~ D A Y  
TaihT FOLLOWS. 
WEEK IB THE HOLXDAY FALLS ON A S
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Provided, however, That Eidul A d h  shall be celebrated as a regional 
Holiday in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.” 
SEC. 2, 
All laws, orders, presidential issuances, rules and regulations or 
part thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 3. 
This Act shall talte effect after fifteen (15) days following its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,