Question & AnswerQ&A (PROCLAMATION NO. 986)
The legal basis is Republic Act No. 9492, dated 24 July 2007, which amended Section 26, Chapter 7, Book I of Executive Order No. 292 (Administrative Code of 1987) and grants the President the power to declare regular holidays and special (non-working) days.
Republic Act No. 9849, dated 11 December 2009, provides that Eidul Adha shall be celebrated as a national holiday in the Philippines.
The declared regular holidays for 2021 include: New Year's Day (1 January), Araw ng Kagitingan (9 April), Maundy Thursday (1 April), Good Friday (2 April), Labor Day (1 May), Independence Day (12 June), National Heroes Day (last Monday of August - 30 August), Bonifacio Day (30 November), Christmas Day (25 December), and Rizal Day (30 December).
The special (non-working) days for 2021 include: Chinese New Year (12 February), EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary (25 February), Black Saturday (3 April), Ninoy Aquino Day (21 August), All Saints' Day (1 November), Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (8 December), and Last Day of the Year (31 December). Additional special non-working days include All Souls' Day (2 November) and 24 December.
They are declared to strengthen family ties by providing more time for the traditional All Saints' Day, All Souls' Day, and Christmas Day commemorative activities, and to promote domestic tourism.
Proclamations for Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha are issued after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined based on the Islamic calendar (Hijra), lunar calendar, or Islamic astronomical calculations, with the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos informing the Office of the President of the actual dates.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is responsible for promulgating the implementing guidelines for the Proclamation.
Regular holidays are days that generally require employers to pay employees their regular daily rate even if they do not work, while special (non-working) days are holidays where work is not required but pay rules may differ and are often subject to company policy or collective bargaining agreements.
Black Saturday, which falls on 3 April 2021, is declared a special (non-working) day nationwide due to its cultural and religious significance during Holy Week, a cherished tradition in the predominantly Catholic Philippines.