MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang released yesterday the list of regular and special holidays for next year to allow the public and the business sector to plan accordingly.
President Aquino signed Proclamation No. 655 on Sept. 25 enumerating the holidays and directing the Department of Labor and Employment to promulgate the implementing guidelines for the order.
The regular holidays include New Year’s Day (Jan. 1), Araw ng Kagitingan (April 9), Maundy Thursday (April 17), Good Friday (April 18), Labor Day (May 1), Independence Day (June 12), National Heroes Day (Aug. 25), Bonifacio Day (Nov. 30), Christmas Day (Dec. 25) and Rizal Day (Dec. 30).
The special non-working days are Chinese New Year (Jan. 31), Black Saturday (April 19), Benigno “Ninoy†Aquino Day (Aug. 21), All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) and Dec. 24, 26 and 31.
The EDSA revolution anniversary on Feb. 25 is a special holiday for schools.
Republic Act 9849 mandates that the Eid’l Adha is a national holiday.
The Palace said proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of Eid’l Fitr and Eid’l Adha would be issued after the dates of the Islamic holidays are determined.
The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos is tasked to inform the Office of the President on which days the holidays will fall.
On Jan. 31, Chinese nationals and Chinese-Filipinos will celebrate Spring Festival or the Chinese New Year, one of the most revered and festive events not only in China but also in the Philippines.
April 19 or Black Saturday falls between Good Friday and Easter Sunday and has been traditionally declared a special non-working day.
To promote closer family ties and enable Filipinos to observe Christmas meaningfully, the Palace declared Dec. 24 and 26 next year as special non-working days.