More Holidays OK'd By Solons,Including CNY

By EDMER F. PANESA
The Committee on Revision of Laws of the House of Representatives approved yesterday a total of 10 bills proposing additional public holidays each year, including the Chinese New Year.

Of the measures approved by the committee, only the Chinese New Year was proposed as a special non-working holiday under House Bill (HB) 5881, while the rest are supposed to be working holidays.

During a non-working holiday, a worker is entitled to at least 100 percent of his basic wage even if he did not report for work and 200 percent if he reported for work. An employee who reports for work on a special working holiday does not get additional pay.

Committee chairman Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao of Isabela said approval of the 10 bills was "conditional" since they would still wait for comment from the National Historical Institute (NHI) regarding the measures.

Aggabao said the committee will endorse the bill for plenary approval should the NHI pose no objection.

"If there’s objection, we will try to reconcile," he added.

HB 5881 is authored by Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez who said the declaration of Chinese New Year, which falls on different dates in the Gregorian calendar in January or February, is in recognition of the "great contributions of the Chinese-Filipino in Philippine society and their rich cultural traditions, thus giving them honor and respect which is due them."

The proposed extra working holidays approved by the Aggabao panel are as follows: Philippine-American War Heroes Day, Feb. 4; Philippines-France Friendship Day, June 26; National Farmer’s Day, Jan. 22; Leandro L. Alejandro Day, Sept. 19; National Day of Remembrance, Sept. 21; National Teacher’s Day, Oct. 5; Founding of the Katipunan, July 7; Constitution Day, Feb. 2; and National Elderly Filipino Broadcasting Day, second Sunday of October.

Catanduanes Rep. Joseph Santiago had earlier cautioned his colleagues against decreeing additional non-working holidays, saying this could weigh down on the country’s economic output.

Under Republic Act 9492 and Presidential Proclamation 1699, the country has a total of 11 regular and five special non-working holidays this year.