Legal basis and holiday framework
- Republic Act (RA) No. 9492 (dated July 24, 2007) rationalizes the celebration of national holidays by amending Section 26, Chapter 7, Book 1 of Executive Order No. 292 (otherwise known as the Administrative Code of 1987).
- RA No. 9492 establishes that the law lists regular holidays and special days to be observed in the country unless modified by law, order, or proclamation (RA No. 9492 referenced in the WHEREAS clauses).
- Proclamation No. 42 (s. 2022) had already declared the regular holidays, special (non-working) days, and additional special (non-working) days for 2023.
- Proclamation No. 90 adjusts the 2023 holiday schedule to implement the holiday economics principle of encouraging domestic travel and increasing tourism expenditures (WHEREAS clauses).
Policy and intent for longer weekends
- The proclamation declares that adjusting holidays for 2023 is justified by holiday economics to create longer weekends.
- The proclamation provides specific additional non-working day adjustments based on Filipino observance patterns (for New Year) and historical preservation (for Araw ng Kagitingan).
- The proclamation provides a compensating working day approach for Bonifacio Day based on the nearest Monday rule under RA No. 9492 as referenced in the WHEREAS clauses.
What Proclamation No. 90 amends
- Section 1 amends Section 1 of Proclamation No. 42 (s. 2022) by revising the list of regular holidays and special (non-working) days for 2023.
- Section 2 preserves all other provisions of Proclamation No. 42 (s. 2022) as valid and unchanged.
2023 regular holidays (revised list)
- New Year’s Day is observed on 1 January (Sunday) (Section 1, A).
- Araw ng Kagitingan is observed on 10 April (Monday nearest April 9) (Section 1, A).
- Maundy Thursday is observed on 6 April (Section 1, A).
- Good Friday is observed on 7 April (Section 1, A).
- Labor Day is observed on 1 May (Monday) (Section 1, A).
- Independence Day is observed on 12 June (Monday) (Section 1, A).
- National Heroes Day is observed on 28 August (Last Monday of August) (Section 1, A).
- Bonifacio Day is observed on 27 November (Monday nearest November 30) (Section 1, A).
- Christmas Day is observed on 25 December (Monday) (Section 1, A).
- Rizal Day is observed on 30 December (Saturday) (Section 1, A).
2023 special (non-working) days (revised list)
- EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary is observed on 25 February (Saturday) (Section 1, B).
- Black Saturday is observed on 08 April (Section 1, B).
- Ninoy Aquino Day is observed on 21 August (Monday) (Section 1, B).
- All Saints’ Day is observed on 1 November (Wednesday) (Section 1, B).
- Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary is observed on 8 December (Friday) (Section 1, B).
- Last Day of the Year is observed on 31 December (Sunday) (Section 1, B).
- Additional Special (Non-Working) Days include:
- 2 January (Monday) (Section 1, B).
- 2 November (Thursday) (Section 1, B).
Coverage and application
- The amended holidays and special (non-working) days for 2023 are to be observed in the country (Section 1 introductory phrase).
- The proclamation is framed to adjust observance for the year 2023 through amendments to the existing holiday proclamation (Section 1; Proclamation No. 42 (s. 2022) reference).
Remaining provisions and final publication
- Section 2 provides that all other provisions of Proclamation No. 42 (s. 2022) remain unchanged, valid, and existing.
- Section 3 mandates immediate effectivity.
- Section 4 requires publication in a newspaper of general circulation to complete the proclamation’s public implementation.