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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. __________ 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative JOEY SARTE SALCEDA 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
RATIONALIZING HOLIDAYS AND SPECIAL DAYS, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 26, CHAPTER 7, 
BOOK 1 OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 292, OTHERWISE KNOWN 
AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF 1987, AS AMENDED 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Public holidays allow the commemoration of special events and provide the people 
with some rest. Holidays, however, also mean nonworking days, reduced productivity, and 
increased labor and business costs. For some workers, this can also mean “no work, no pay.”  
With twenty-one (21) to twenty-five (25) public holidays per year, the Philippines is 
one of the top countries in the region and among the most prolific in the world with the most 
holidays. Public holidays in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) average 
fifteen (15) holidays only per year.  
Aside from the lower productivity, too many nonworking holidays also meant days lost 
for learning which is particularly aggravated by heightening impacts of climate change and 
other disaster risks which cause suspension of classes. 
While Congress has exercised some restraint in further increasing the many holidays 
in our country, particularly those that are nonworking, we need to do more to improve our 
holiday policy to expand our nation’s productivity and increase our competitiveness. 
This bill, therefore, proposes to rationalize holidays by limiting regular holidays, which 
are nonworking days, to seven (8) only. All other holidays shall be made special days, which 
are working days, but giving the employees an allowance of seven (7) nonworking days to 
commemorate their chosen special days based on their cultural, religious, and personal 
preference. Special days have been expanded to include Chinese New Year, EDSA Revolution 
Anniversary, Founding Anniversary of the Iglesia ni Cristo, and Nativity of the Blessed Virgin 
Mary. In this way, we are embracing our country’s diversity and public holidays can be more 
meaningful for the individual based on his or her choice.  
July 1, 2022 
8:00 am
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Furthermore, this bill also enjoins each local government unit to have only one (1) local 
holiday by law or ordinance to commemorate its founding, heroes, or fiesta in its respective 
territory. This essentially means 2 local holidays, 1 for province and 1 for the town or city. 
In sum, there will be 9 regular nonworking holidays, 2 local nonworking holidays and 
7 special days that would be nonworking to be agreed upon by employees and employers for 
a total of 18 nonworking holidays and special days. 
This bill aims to provide the employers a stable and more predictable environment for 
their business operations. The reduced nonworking days, which is on the ASEAN average, will 
also give the country more competitiveness. At the same time, the concept of holiday 
economics, except for holidays or special days requiring a specific date of commemoration, 
has been retained in this bill to further encourage tourism and benefit the economy during the 
planned holidays. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought 
JOEY SARTE SALCEDA 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. __________ 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative JOEY SARTE SALCEDA 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
RATIONALIZING HOLIDAYS AND SPECIAL DAYS, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 26, CHAPTER 7, 
BOOK 1 OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 292, OTHERWISE KNOWN 
AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF 1987, AS AMENDED 
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 “Holiday Rationalization 
Act of 2022.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to expand 
productivity and promote competitiveness by rationalizing the holidays and special days in the 
Philippines and limiting the number of nonworking days in commemoration thereof in order 
to build a stronger and more productive economy that will raise the quality of life for all. 
SEC. 3. Amendment. – Section 26, Chapter 7, Book 1 of Executive Order No. 292, 
otherwise known as the Administrative Code of 1987, as amended, is hereby amended to read 
as follows: 
“SEC. 26. [Regular] Holidays and [Nationwide] Special Days. – 
(1) 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
-
January 1
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[Maundy Thursday  
- 
Movable Date] 
Good Friday  
 
- 
Movable Date 
Eidul Fitr 
 
 
- 
Movable Date 
[Eidul Adha  
 
- 
Movable Date 
Araw ng Kagitingan  
- 
Monday nearest April 9 
(Bataan and Corregidor Day)] 
Labor Day 
 
 
- 
Monday nearest May 1 
Independence Day 
 
- 
June 12 
[National Heroes Day 
- 
Last Monday of August] 
ALL SAINTS’ DAY  
- 
NOVEMBER 1 
Bonifacio Day  
 
- 
November 30 
Christmas Day 
 
- 
December 25 
Rizal Day 
 
 
- 
Monday nearest December 30 
(b) [Nationwide] Special [Holidays] DAYS 
CHINESE NEW YEAR 
- 
MOVABLE DATE 
EDSA REVOLUTION  
- 
MONDAY NEAREST 
 
FEBRUARY 25 
 
ANNIVERSARY 
MAUNDY THURSDAY 
- 
MOVABLE DATE 
EIDUL ADHA 
 
- 
MOVABLE DATE 
ARAW NG KAGITINGAN - 
MONDAY NEAREST 
 
APRIL 9 
(BATAAN AND CORREGIDOR DAY) 
FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY 
-  
JULY 28 
OF THE IGLESIA NI CRISTO 
Ninoy Aquino Day 
 
- 
Monday nearest August 21 
NATIONAL HEROES DAY - 
LAST MONDAY OF AUGUST 
All Saints Day  
- 
November 1 
NATIVITY OF THE  
- 
DECEMBER 8 
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY 
CHRISTMAS EVE   
- 
DECEMBER 24 
Last Day of the Year  
-  
December 31 
(c) LOCAL HOLIDAYS 
EACH LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT IS ENJOINED TO HAVE 
ONLY ONE (1) LOCAL HOLIDAY BY LAW OR ORDINANCE 


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TO COMMEMORATE ITS FOUNDING, HEROES, OR FIESTA 
IN ITS RESPECTIVE TERRITORY, WHICH SHALL BE 
CONTAINED IN A RESOLUTION OF THE CORRESPONDING 
SANGGUNIAN BY AT LEAST SIX (6) MONTHS PRIOR TO 
THE CHOSEN LOCAL HOLIDAY AND SHALL BE COPY 
FURNISHED TO THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT. 
(d) REGULAR HOLIDAYS AND LOCAL HOLIDAYS SHALL BE 
NONWORKING DAYS. SPECIAL DAYS SHALL BE WORKING 
DAYS, BUT THE EMPLOYEES ARE HEREBY GIVEN AN 
ALLOWANCE OF SEVEN (7) NONWORKING DAYS TO 
COMMEMORATE THEIR CHOSEN SPECIAL DAYS AS 
AGREED WITH THEIR EMPLOYERS. IN AGREEING TO 
SPECIAL DAYS AS NONWORKING DAYS, THE EMPLOYERS 
SHALL GIVE DUE CONSIDERATION TO THE CULTURAL, 
RELIGIOUS, AND PERSONAL PREFERENCE OF THEIR 
EMPLOYEES.  
(e) FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR, THE 7 SPECIAL DAYS TO BE 
DETERMINED AS NON-WORKING SHALL BE MADE BY THE 
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT 
(f) FOR THE PURPOSE OF HOLIDAY ECONOMICS, EXCEPT 
WHEN THE HOLIDAY OR SPECIAL DAY REQUIRES A 
SPECIFIC DATE OF COMMEMORATION, In the event the 
holiday OR SPECIAL DAY falls on a Wednesday, [the holiday] IT 
will be observed on the Monday of that week. If the holiday OR 
SPECIAL DAY falls on a Sunday, [the holiday] IT will be observed 
on the Monday that follows: 
Provided, That for movable holidays OR SPECIAL DAYS, the 
President shall issue a proclamation, at least six (6) months prior to the 
holiday concerned, the specific date THEREFOR [shall be declared 
as a nonworking day].”” 
 
SEC. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Department of Labor and 
Employment (DOLE) shall promulgate the rules and regulations to implement the provisions 
of this Act within ninety (90) days from its effectivity. 


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SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or other 
issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 6. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect in the beginning of next year following 
the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
circulation in the Philippines. 
 
Approved,