Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.  3101 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE ARNULF BRYAN “ARNIE” B. FUENTEBELLA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Sec. 18 of the Art. II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that: 
“Section 18. The State affirms labor as a primary social 
economic force. It shall protect the rights of workers and 
promote their welfare” 
This bill seeks to declare Election Day, which falls on the second Monday 
of May every three years in accordance with Sec. 2 of Republic Act No. 7166. Art. 
94 (c) enumerates regular holidays, which includes “…the day designated by law 
for holding a general election.” Both our Constitution and the Omnibus Election 
Code indicate the second Monday of May as election day. 
Our current rules only give the President the authority to declare Election 
Day as a special non-working holiday. Article 93 of the Labor Code applies, 
entitling the employee an additional 30% in pay; for those who do not work, no 
compensation is given. This incentivizes labor while discouraging citizens from 
exercising their right to suffrage. 
Given the original intent of the Labor Code and our collective desire to have 
our citizens exercise their right to vote, I humbly propose to amend existing laws 
to declare Election Day as a regular holiday. This is part of a series of bills seeking 
to have our laws reflect the necessity of declaring Election Day a regular non-
working holiday. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
ARNULF BRYAN “ARNIE” B. FUENTEBELLA 
   Representative 
 Fourth District, Camarines Sur 
August 5, 2025
2:16 pm


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 3101 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE ARNULF BRYAN “ARNIE” B. FUENTEBELLA 
AN ACT DECLARING THE NATIONAL ELECTION DAY AS A REGULAR NON-WORKING 
HOLIDAY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 2 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7166 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AN ACT PROVIDING FOR SYNCHRONIZED NATIONAL AND 
LOCAL ELECTIONS AND FOR ELECTORAL REFORMS, AUTHORIZING 
APPROPRIATIONS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. It is hereby declared that the day on which the National Election falls be a 
regular non-working holiday, in view of the original intention of Presidential Decree No. 442 and 
to allow our citizens to fully exercise their right to suffrage. 
SECTION 2. Section 13 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881 otherwise known as the “An Act 
Providing for Synchronized National and Local Elections and for Electoral Reforms, Authorizing 
Appropriations Therefor, and for Other Purposes”, as amended, is further amended to read as 
follows: 
“Section 2. Date of Elections. - In accordance with the policy hereinbefore stated, 
there shall be an election for President, Vice-President, twenty-four (24) Senators, all 
elective Members of the House of Representatives, and all elective provincial, city and 
municipal officials on the second Monday of May, 1992. Thereafter, the President and 
Vice-President shall be elected on the same day every six (6) years; while the Senators, 
elective Members of the House of Representatives and all elective provincial, city and 
municipal officials shall be elected on the same day every three (3) years, except that 
with respect to Senators, only twelve (12) shall be elected. TO ALLOW FOR THE FULL 
EXERCISE OF THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE, THE NATIONAL ELECTION DAY SHALL 
BE A REGULAR NON-WORKING HOLIDAY. 
xxx” 
SECTION 3. All laws, executive orders, issuances, and rules and regulations inconsistent 
with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official 
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved.