PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. has updated the list of national holidays next year to allow people to enjoy more long weekends and help boost local tourism.
In his Proclamation No. 90 signed last week but only released to the media on Wednesday, Marcos amended the provisions of his Proclamation No. 42, which contains the list of regular and special (non-working) holidays in 2023.
Under Proclamation 90, Jan. 2, which is a Monday, will be declared as an additional special (non-working) holiday.
It also made the Monday (April 10) after the commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) on April 9, a regular holiday. a
Likewise, the new issuance also transferred the regular holiday meant for the celebration of Bonifacio Day (Nov. 30) to Nov. 27, which is a Monday, instead.
Proclamation 90 cited the provisions of Republic Act No. 9492 or the Act Rationalizing the Celebration of National Holidays as basis for the creation of more long weekends.
It noted that making the adjustments is pursuant to the principle of holiday economics, which states “a longer weekend will help encourage domestic travel and help increase tourism expenditure in the country.”
The new proclamation took effect immediately after it was issued on Nov. 11, 2022.
Unchanged list
Except for the said three revisions, the other provisions of the Proclamation No. 42, which was signed in August, remain the same.
These include the following unchanged list of regular holidays: New Year’s Day (Jan. 1), Maundy Thursday (April 6), Good Friday (April 7), Labor Day (May 1), Independence Day (June 12), National Heroes Day (Aug. 28), Christmas Day (Dec. 25), and Rizal Day (Dec. 30).
As for the list of special non-working holidays next year, it will include EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary (Feb. 25), Black Saturday (April 8), Ninoy Aquino Day (Aug. 21), All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1), Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (Dec. 8), Last Day of the Year (Dec. 31).
November 2, despite not having any occasion, was also declared as an additional special non-working holiday.
The proclamation also guaranteed the declaration of Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha as national holidays, at the dates to be stipulated in the Islamic lunar calendar.
Image credits: Arnel Peregino