By Rey Anthony Chiu | 09:08 AM November 20, 2022
Holiday economics usher in 9 long weekends which could provide Filipinos the much needed opportunity for domestic travel and help government prop up its tourism revenues.
This is also what Proclamation No. 90 which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed November 11, feature just as the country tries to pick up its formerly brisk tourism spurred economy before the pandemic.
With Proclamation No. 90, the President has also effectively amended Proclamation No. 42 series of 2022, which initially declared the regular and special non-working holidays, as well as the additional special non-working days in the country for 2023.
Along this, the 9 long weekends are December 30 which is Rizal Day, December 31 2022 which is the last day of the year, January 1 which is New Year’s Day and January 2, which is declared by Proclamation No. 90, April 6 (Maundy Thursday), April 7 (Holy Friday), April 8 (Black Saturday), April 9 (Easter Sunday) and April 10 which is Araw ng Kagitingan.
By April 29 (Saturday) April 30 (Sunday) and May 1 Labor Day which is a regular holiday, June 10 (Saturday), June 11 (Sunday) and June 12 Monday which is Independence Day and is a regular holiday.
Then there is June 10 (Saturday), June 11 (Sunday) and June 12 which is Independence Day falling on a Monday, then August 19 (Saturday), August 20 (Sunday) and August 21, Ninoy Aquino Day falling on a Monday, November 25 (Saturday, November 26 (Sunday) and November 27 Monday which is also the nearest Monday to November 30.
By December, the two long weekends in 2023 are December 8 Special Non-Working Day) for the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary on the Monday.
And the Christmas in 2023 would be ushered by a long weekend with December 23 (Saturday), December 25 (Sunday) and December 26 (Monday) as additional Special non-working day.
On the Proclamation, the regular holidays are January 1 (New Year’s Day), April 10 (Araw ng Kagitingan), April 6 (Maunday Thursday), April 7 (Good Friday), may 1 Labor Day, June 12 Independence Day, August 28 National Heros Day, November 27 Bonifacio Day, December 25 (Christmas Day) and December 30, Rizal Day.
For Special Non-working days, these are January 2 Additional special non-working day, February 25 (EDSA People’s Power, April 8 Black Saturday, August 21 Ninoy Aquino Day, November 1 All Saints Day, November 2 as Additional special non-working day, December 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 31 last day of the year.
Three more holidays have yet to be fixed and needs a special proclamation. These are Chinese New Year, Aid’l Adha and the Eid’l Fit’r.
The president pointed out the need to adjust holidays pursuant to the principle of holiday economics wherein a longer weekend will help encourage domestic travel and increase tourism expenditures in the country.
For example, in 2023, January 1 or New Year’s Day which is a regular non-working holiday falls on a Sunday.
In consideration of the Filipino tradition of visiting relatives and spending time with the families for this occasion, it is but fitting to declare January 2, which is a Monday ad an additional special non-working day throughout the country.
In the same manner, when April 9, which is a regular holiday in commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan, the holiday in 2023 again falls on a Sunday.
As to the Proclamation, to enable our countrymen to avail of the benefits of a longer weekend, April 10, which is a Monday may be declared as a non-working holiday, provided that the historical significance of the Araw ng Kagitingan is maintained.
Again, November 30, which is Bonifacio Day, falls on a Thursday and by application of the Republic Act 9492, the commemoration is moved to the Monday nearest November 30, which happens to be November 27 of this year. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
DAYS TO WANDER AND SQUANDER. For the Boholanos who have not visited new tourism areas and destinations like this Alicia Panoramic Park, 9 long weekends provide the perfect opportunity for this as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr signed Proclamation No. 90, declaring holidays in 2023. (RAHC/PIA-7/Bohol)
