52 lawmakers back Rep. Osmeña's "Happy 8" proposal

CEBU, Philippines – As of the latest count 52 congressmen have co-authored the proposed "Happy 8" bill of Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña filed at the House of Representatives, the congressman told The FREEMAN.

Osmeña recently filed House Bill 3152 or "An Act Declaring Dec. 25 to Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 as Special Non-Working Holidays."

"The bill that I filed is very simple. It's called the 'Happy 8.' You know, I'm smart. My bill is only one page. I don't want to spend a lot of time on it. I just want to make something that will make people happy," Osmeña said.

Osmeña put it in the standpoint of a congressman when all constituents working in Manila or in the big cities can come home for the holidays to be with their family and friends.

It does not also require one peso of the congressman's pork barrel.

"All those other bills to help people require an appropriation of billions. My bill? Nothing. So don't think I'm going to get money from somebody," Osmeña said adding that these people who are going back to their hometowns are bringing with them their salaries and Christmas bonuses.

Osmeña said if his bill becomes law, the transportation system and the small and medium enterprises will benefit because the people will spend their money on the SMEs in their hometowns instead of on the big establishment in the big cities.

"All those bigshots in NEDA trying to figure out how to help the SMEs, just sign this bill and you'll be helping the SMEs in your district," he said.

Osmeña said he just copied a similar bill in the United States where holidays are long weekends. He also said if people know ahead of time that there will be a long weekend they go out of town.

"In the US, the impact on countryside development and tourism is tremendous," he said.

Osmeña cited that during Holy Week when there is nobody in Manila and even in Cebu City, people go to Bantayan Island or other places in the countryside.

Osmeña further cited that in the US people go to different places every time there is a long weekend.

"So instead of paying every time there's a holiday, why don't we just build a beach house in Moalboal or Badian. That's where the economy is helped. You also have to hire people to maintain the place. So it has a very profound effect," Osmeña added.

The proposal does not sit well with the business sector.

"Not good for the business sector since it will incur additional cost on products, low productivity and etc." said Samuel Chioson, president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Other additional costs include holiday pay and others, Chioson added. -/BRP (FREEMAN)