Question & AnswerQ&A (PROCLAMATION NO. 368)
The primary purpose of Proclamation No. 368 is to declare the regular holidays and special (non-working) days for the year 2024 in the Philippines.
Republic Act No. 9492 dated 24 July 2007 amended Section 26, Chapter 7, Book I of EO No. 292 to declare certain days as special or regular holidays.
Chinese New Year is declared as a special (non-working) day on February 10, 2024.
Black Saturday, which falls on 30 March 2024, is declared a special (non-working) day as it is part of the Holy Week observance, a cherished tradition among the predominantly Catholic Filipino population.
Republic Act No. 9256 dated 25 February 2004 declared August 21 of every year as a national non-working holiday to commemorate the death anniversary of former Senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr.
December 8 is observed as a special non-working holiday for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary according to RA No. 10966.
November 2, 2024, is declared an additional special (non-working) day to strengthen family ties through traditional All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day activities and promote domestic tourism.
Regular holidays declared include New Year's Day, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Araw ng Kagitingan, Labor Day, Independence Day, National Heroes Day, Bonifacio Day, Christmas Day, and Rizal Day.
The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos is responsible for recommending the actual dates for the observance of Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha to the Office of the President.
The Department of Labor and Employment is tasked with promulgating the implementing guidelines for Proclamation No. 368.
Proclamation No. 368 took effect immediately upon its issuance on October 11, 2023.
The President derives this power from the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which empowers the Chief Executive to declare regular and special holidays to serve public interest.
No, the holidays of Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha are declared after the actual dates have been determined based on the Islamic calendar or astronomical calculations, as recommended by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos.
Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024, is considered as an additional special (non-working) day, not a regular holiday.