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Philippine holiday economics refers to the policy in the Philippines introduced by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to move the observance of certain public holidays to the nearest weekend.

Background

Introduction by Arroyo

The Executive Order 292, or the National Administrative Code of 1987 defines several of the public national holidays in the Philippines. There are two types of public holidays in the Philippines – regular and special non-working holidays. Schools in all levels suspend classes regardless of the public holidays while employers may or may not require workers to report to work.^[1]

Those who would have report to work if not for the holiday but did not render work are paid their regular rate. Employees required to work due to their nature of their work are paid extra of their daily rate and cost of living daily allowance depending if the holiday is a regular (200%) or a special non-working holiday (130%).^[1] If a holiday falls on a non-working day for the employee, the employee is not compensated.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Proclamation No. 1211 in January 2007 declaring Independence Day which falls on June 12 a working holiday, and the day before a non-working holiday – effectively moving the holiday. However rites organized by the government remained observed on the actual date.^[2]

She would sign into law Republic Act 9492 the Holiday Economics Law on July 24, 2007^[3] which allows the observance of otherwise fixed public holidays except for New Year's Day on January 1, All Saint's Day on November 1, Christmas Day on December 25, and the last day of the year, December 31 to the nearest Monday. The Senate bill of the law was introduced by Senator Joker Arroyo.^[4] The measure was enacted in a bid to boost domestic tourism.^[5]

Abolishment of policy by Aquino

Arroyo's successor, Benigno Aquino III would retain the policy in his first few months in office. The business sector has opposed the policy due to extra costs associated on paying workers extra wage on public holidays.^[6]^[7] He would issue Proclamation 82 on December 20, 2010, ending the holiday economics policy. Under Republic Act 9492, the president has the "prerogative" to move or retain the movable holidays specified in the law.^[8]

Reintroduction by Marcos

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reintroduced the holiday economics policy by issuing Proclamation No. 90 on November 11, 2022 which concerns the observance of public holidays for 2023.^[9] This was enacted as a means to boost the domestic tourism industry which was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns.^[10]

Movement of holiday observances

The holiday economics law does not move the actual dates of the holidays but rather "rationalizes" the observance of it by moving its observance to the nearest weekend (Monday).^[6] This would prevent holidays in the middle of weekdays and would create long weekends.

Holidays explicitly mentioned in Republic Act No. 9492^[3]
Holiday	Date	Observance
New Year's Day	January 1
Maundy Thursday	Varies annually (Movable date^[c])
Good Friday
Eidul Fitr
Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor)	April 9	Nearest Monday
Labor Day	May 1	Nearest Monday
Independence Day	June 12	Nearest Monday
Ninoy Aquino Day (special holiday)	August 21	Nearest Monday
National Heroes Day	Last Monday of August
All Saints' Day (special holiday)	November 1
Bonifacio Day	November 30	Nearest Monday
Christmas Day	December 25
Rizal Day	December 30	Nearest Monday
Last Day of the Year (special holiday)	December 31

Example

Notes

^ Dates are fictional and for illustrative purposes
^ "If the holiday falls on a Sunday, the holiday will be observed on the Monday that follows" – Sec. 26, c (Republic Act No.9492)
^ "Movable date" is a term which appears in Republic Act No. 9492. Not to be confused with holidays with observance that can be moved via said law.

References

^ ^a ^b "Regular vs. nonworking holidays: What's the difference?". CNN Philippines. April 7, 2015. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
^ "Pimentel: GMA urged to stop tampering with recognized legal holidays". Senate of the Philippines. June 13, 2007. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Republic Act. No. 9492". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. July 24, 2007. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
^ Sy, Marvin (July 26, 2007). "GMA signs into law bill rationalizing national holidays". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
^ Tan, Alyssa Nicole (January 17, 2023). "Senate bill to revive 2007 law on 'holiday economics'". BusinessWorld. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Sy, Marvin (July 8, 2010). "Noynoy signed on to holiday economics - Joker". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
^ Felongco, Gilbert (August 8, 2010). "Aquino to retain Arroyo holiday policy". Gulf News. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
^ Porcalla, Delon (December 22, 2010). "Noy defends removal of holiday economics". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
^ Romero, Alexis (November 17, 2022). "'Holiday Economics' Back In 2023". One News. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
^ "PBBM holiday economics to boost domestic tourism: Salceda". Philippine News Agency. January 18, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.