QuestionsQuestions (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 533)
It is Republic Act (RA) No. 9492 (amending Section 26, Chapter 7, Book I of EO No. 292, the Administrative Code of 1987), which provides the basis for declaring certain days as special or regular holidays.
The proclamation categorizes days into (1) Regular Holidays, (2) Special (Non-Working) Days, and (3) Special (Working) Days. Non-working days require employers to treat them as holidays without work (subject to labor rules for work that may still be allowed), while special working days are intended to be worked as the name implies.
New Year’s Day (1 January 2022), Araw ng Kagitingan (9 April 2022), Maundy Thursday (14 April 2022), Good Friday (15 April 2022), Labor Day (1 May 2022), Independence Day (12 June 2022), National Heroes Day (29 August 2022), Bonifacio Day (30 November 2022), Christmas Day (25 December 2022), and Rizal Day (30 December 2022).
Chinese New Year (1 February 2022), EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary (25 February 2022), Black Saturday (16 April 2022), Ninoy Aquino Day (21 August 2022), All Saints’ Day (1 November 2022), and Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (8 December 2022).
All Souls’ Day (2 November 2022), Christmas Eve (24 December 2022), and Last Day of the Year (31 December 2022).
Because Islamic holidays depend on the Islamic calendar (Hijra), lunar calendar, or Islamic astronomical calculations. The proclamation provides that actual dates will be issued after approximate dates are determined.
The proclamation states that the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos shall recommend to the Office of the President the actual dates on which Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha will fall.
RA No. 9849 (dated 11 December 2009) provides that Eidul Adha shall be celebrated as a national holiday.
It notes that on 1 February 2022, Chinese nationals worldwide celebrate the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), and that it may be declared a special (non-working) day without detriment to public interest.
RA No. 10966 (dated 28 December 2017) provides that December 8 shall be celebrated as a special non-working holiday to commemorate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary.
To recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by encouraging economic productivity, minimizing work disruption, and commemorating some special holidays as special (working) days instead.
It takes effect immediately. It also states that it shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation.
They may ask about the effect on employee work schedules and benefits/compensation under applicable labor standards (e.g., how regular holiday vs. special working day status affects entitlement to holiday pay), in coordination with implementing guidelines from the Department of Labor and Employment.
It tasks DOLE to promulgate the implementing guidelines for the proclamation.