QuestionsQuestions (PROCLAMATION NO. 555)
The authority is anchored on RA No. 9492 (24 July 2007), which amended Section 26, Chapter 7, Book I of EO No. 292 (Administrative Code of 1987). The President exercises the powers vested by the Constitution as recognized in the proclamation.
RA No. 9849 provides that Eidul Adha shall be celebrated as a national holiday.
Because Islamic holidays depend on the Islamic (Hijra) calendar or lunar calendar and may require Islamic astronomical calculations; therefore, the approximate dates may change and actual dates will be determined later.
The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) is mandated to inform the Office of the President.
RA No. 10966 (28 December 2017) provides that December 8 of every year shall be celebrated as a special non-working holiday in the entire country to commemorate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary.
2019 Regular Holidays: New Year’s Day (1 January—Tuesday), Araw ng Kagitingan (9 April—Tuesday), Maundy Thursday (18 April), Good Friday (19 April), Labor Day (1 May—Wednesday), Independence Day (12 June—Wednesday), National Heroes Day (26 August—last Monday of August), Bonifacio Day (30 November—Saturday), Christmas Day (25 December—Wednesday), and Rizal Day (30 December—Monday).
Special (Non-Working) Days: Chinese New Year (05 February—Tuesday), EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary (25 February—Monday), Black Saturday (20 April), Ninoy Aquino Day (21 August—Wednesday), All Saints’ Day (1 November—Friday), Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (8 December—Sunday), Last Day of the Year (31 December—Tuesday), plus additional special days: 2 November (Saturday) and 24 December (Tuesday).
It states the purpose is 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.
Black Saturday (20 April 2019) is traditionally declared a special (non-working) day throughout the country, with the reason given being the observance of Holy Week as a cherished tradition of the predominantly Catholic people.
Chinese New Year is declared a special (non-working) day (05 February 2019—Tuesday). The justification is that it is one of the most revered and festive events celebrated in both China and the Philippines, and the date may be declared without detriment to public interest.
The Department of Labor and Employment shall promulgate the implementing guidelines for the proclamation.
Section 4 states it shall take effect immediately.
Section 5 requires that the proclamation be published in a newspaper of general circulation.
It explicitly separates Regular Holidays from Special (Non-Working) Days. Practically, this classification affects observance rules and wage/compensation consequences under labor laws and related regulations, depending on whether a holiday is regular or special non-working.
Examples: 1 November (All Saints’ Day) and 2 November (additional special day) occur around All Souls’ Day/All Saints observances; and 24 December (additional special day) and 25 December (Christmas Day—regular holiday) occur around Christmas.