Solon wants Feb. 14 as Nat’l Family Day

CEBU, Philippines - Giving more meaning to what people usually celebrate on Valentine’s Day, Cebu City South District Representative Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa is pushing for a House bill declaring February 14 as National Family Day.

The bill was drafted to strengthen the basic unit of the society, which is the family, and by putting more significance on Valentine’s Day.

“The National Family Day shall celebrate and strengthen the family unit's contributions to nation building and shall aim to remind Filipinos of its rights, capabilities and responsibilities,” the proposed house bill reads.

By declaring February 14 as National Family Day, it would help resolve the problem in the family especially on illegal drugs, since “drug menace has long thrived because the family environment has festered with misplaced values that cultivated errant behavior.”

“To honor and to instill in our people the importance of nurturing the most basic unit of the community, the family, the 14th of February of every year is hereby declared as special working holiday to be known as the “National Family Day”,” it added.

Government offices, private utilities and academic institutions are enjoined to extend their support to the programs and activities to be conducted in relation to this bill.

Government agencies such as Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Interior and Local Government, and Local Government Units shall prepare and adopt necessary policies on the observance of the said celebration to ensure the implementation of the proposed bill.

The proposed bill was passed on first reading last January 25. —/GAN (FREEMAN)