Philippine holiday economics refers to the policy in the Philippines introduced by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to move the observance of certain public holidays to the nearest weekend.
The Executive Order 292, or the National Administrative Code of 1987 defines several of the public national holidays in the Philippines. There are two types of public holidays in the Philippines – regular and special non-working holidays. Schools in all levels suspend classes regardless of the public holidays while employers may or may not require workers to report to work. [1]
Those who would have report to work if not for the holiday but did not render work are paid their regular rate. Employees required to work due to their nature of their work are paid extra of their daily rate and cost of living daily allowance depending if the holiday is a regular (200%) or a special non-working holiday (130%). [1] If a holiday falls on a non-working day for the employee, the employee is not compensated.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Proclamation No. 1211 in January 2007 declaring Independence Day which falls on June 12 a working holiday, and the day before a non-working holiday – effectively moving the holiday. However rites organized by the government remained observed on the actual date. [2]
She would sign into law Republic Act 9492 the Holiday Economics Law on July 24, 2007 [3] which allows the observance of otherwise fixed public holidays except for New Year's Day on January 1, All Saint's Day on November 1, Christmas Day on December 25, and the last day of the year, December 31 to the nearest Monday. The Senate bill of the law was introduced by Senator Joker Arroyo. [4] The measure was enacted in a bid to boost domestic tourism. [5]
Arroyo's successor, Benigno Aquino III would retain the policy in his first few months in office. The business sector has opposed the policy due to extra costs associated on paying workers extra wage on public holidays. [6] [7] He would issue Proclamation 82 on December 20, 2010, ending the holiday economics policy. Under Republic Act 9492, the president has the "prerogative" to move or retain the movable holidays specified in the law. [8]
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reintroduced the holiday economics policy by issuing Proclamation No. 90 on November 11, 2022 which concerns the observance of public holidays for 2023. [9] This was enacted as a means to boost the domestic tourism industry which was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns. [10]
The holiday economics law does not move the actual dates of the holidays but rather "rationalizes" the observance of it by moving its observance to the nearest weekend (Monday). [6] This would prevent holidays in the middle of weekdays and would create long weekends.
Holiday | Date | Observance |
---|---|---|
New Year's Day | January 1 | |
Maundy Thursday | Varies annually (Movable date [c] ) | |
Good Friday | ||
Eidul Fitr | ||
Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) | April 9 | Nearest Monday |
Labor Day | May 1 | Nearest Monday |
Independence Day | June 12 | Nearest Monday |
Ninoy Aquino Day (special holiday) | August 21 | Nearest Monday |
National Heroes Day | Last Monday of August | |
All Saints' Day (special holiday) | November 1 | |
Bonifacio Day | November 30 | Nearest Monday |
Christmas Day | December 25 | |
Rizal Day | December 30 | Nearest Monday |
Last Day of the Year (special holiday) | December 31 |
Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal-Arroyo, often referred to as PGMA or GMA, is a Filipino academic and politician who served as the 14th president of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010. She is the longest-serving president since Ferdinand Marcos. Before her presidency, she was the 10th vice president of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001 under President Joseph Estrada, becoming the first female vice president. She was also a senator from 1992 to 1998. After her presidency, she was elected as the representative of Pampanga's 2nd district in 2010 and continues to serve in this role. She also served as the speaker of the House from 2018 to 2019, and as deputy speaker from 2016 to 2017 and 2022 to 2023. Alongside former president Sergio Osmeña, she is one of only two Filipinos to hold at least three of the four highest offices: vice president, president, and house speaker.
Public holidays in the Philippines are of two types: regular holidays and special non-working days.
Diosdado Pangan Macapagal Sr. was a Filipino lawyer, poet and politician who served as the ninth President of the Philippines, serving from 1961 to 1965, and the sixth Vice President, serving from 1957 to 1961. He also served as a member of the House of Representatives, and headed the Constitutional Convention of 1970. He was the father of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who followed his path as President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010.
Philippine Republic Day, also known as Philippine–American Friendship Day, is a commemoration in the Philippines held annually on July 4. It was formerly an official holiday designated as Independence Day, celebrating the signing of the Treaty of Manila, which granted Philippine independence from the United States of America in 1946.
Bonifacio Day is a national holiday in the Philippines, commemorating Andrés Bonifacio, one of the country's national heroes. He was the founder and eventual Supremo of the Katipunan, a secret society that triggered the Philippine Revolution of 1896 against the Spanish Empire. It is celebrated every November 30, the birth anniversary of Bonifacio. It also coincides with the feast day of Saint Andrew the Apostle, from whom Bonifacio's given name was derived, as he was born on such day.
2005 in the Philippines details events of note that happened in the Philippines in the year 2005.
2003 in the Philippines details events of note that happened in the Philippines in the year 2003.
2006 in the Philippines details events of note that happened in the Philippines in the year 2006.
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Independence Day is a national holiday in the Philippines observed annually on June 12, commemorating the declaration of Philippine independence from Spain in 1898. Since 1978, it has been the country's National Day.
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This article covers the history of the Philippines from the recognition of independence in 1946 to the end of the presidency of Diosdado Macapagal that covered much of the Third Republic of the Philippines, which ended on January 17, 1973, with the ratification of the 1973 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines.
Ninoy Aquino Day is a national non-working holiday in the Philippines observed annually on August 21 commemorating the assassination of former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr., the husband of Corazon Aquino, who later became the eleventh Philippine President. His assassination led to the downfall of the tenth president, dictator, and kleptocrat Ferdinand Marcos, which ultimately resulted in the People Power Revolution on February 25, 1986. Since 2004, a commemoration ceremony is traditionally held that was attended by presidents Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Fidel V. Ramos and Benigno Aquino III.
2007 in the Philippines details events of note that happened in the Philippines in the year 2007.
The Day of Valor, officially known as Araw ng Kagitingan, is a national observance in the Philippines that commemorates the fall of Bataan to Japanese troops during World War II. The day is officially celebrated every April 9, the start of the Bataan Death March, although the date was moved on several occasions to avoid it from coinciding with the observance of the Holy Week in the country, especially the Easter Triduum and Easter Sunday, such as in 2004, 2009, 2020, and 2023.
2004 in the Philippines details events of note that happened in the Philippines in the year 2004.
2009 in the Philippines details events of note that happened in the Philippines in the year 2009.
The presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, also known as the Arroyo administration, spanned nine years from January 20, 2001, to June 30, 2010. She served the remainder of her predecessor Joseph Estrada's term after he was deposed, and she was elected to a full second term in 2004 which ended in 2010. Arroyo is the daughter of 9th president Diosdado Macapagal.
1947 in the Philippines details events of note that happened in the Philippines in 1947.
National Heroes Day is a public holiday in the Philippines celebrated annually on the last Monday of August as a tribute to Filipino Heroes.