Question & AnswerQ&A (PROCLAMATION NO. 555)
The legal basis is Republic Act No. 9492 dated July 24, 2007, which amended Section 26, Chapter 7, Book I of Executive Order No. 292 (Administrative Code of 1987) declaring certain days as regular or special holidays.
Republic Act No. 9849 dated December 11, 2009, declares Eidul Adha as a national holiday.
The President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested by the Constitution, declares regular and special holidays.
Regular holidays for 2019 include New Year's Day (January 1), Araw ng Kagitingan (April 9), Maundy Thursday (April 18), Good Friday (April 19), Labor Day (May 1), Independence Day (June 12), National Heroes Day (August 26), Bonifacio Day (November 30), Christmas Day (December 25), and Rizal Day (December 30).
Special non-working days in 2019 were Chinese New Year (February 5), EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary (February 25), Black Saturday (April 20), Ninoy Aquino Day (August 21), All Saints' Day (November 1), Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (December 8), Last Day of the Year (December 31), and additional special days on November 2 and December 24.
To strengthen family ties by providing more time for traditional commemorative activities for All Saints' and All Souls' Days and Christmas, and to promote domestic tourism.
Declarations for these holidays are issued after determining the approximate dates according to the Islamic (Hijra) lunar calendar or astronomical calculations, with the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos informing the Office of the President.
The Department of Labor and Employment is responsible for promulgating implementing guidelines for holiday proclamations.
The proclamation took effect immediately upon its signing on August 15, 2018.
The proclamation must be published in a newspaper of general circulation to inform the public officially.