MANILA, Philippines—Another long weekend awaits employees in both public and private sectors as Malacañang Wednesday moved the observance of the death of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. from Aug. 21 to 18.
The Palace made the announcement in keeping with Proclamation No. 1463 issued by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, which sets the specific dates of movable holidays as mandated by Republic Act No. 9492.
The country’s labor laws entitle employees to double their regular daily pay when they report for work on legal holidays.
But since Ninoy Aquino Day is only a special nonworking holiday, employees will receive 30 percent on top of their regular pay for that day, said Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo.
RA 9492, which rationalized the celebration of the country’s holidays, was based on the Arroyo administration’s “holiday economics.”
Declared as a public holiday, Aug. 21, 1983 was the day Aquino, the arch political rival of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, was assassinated on the tarmac of the Manila International Airport upon his return from a three-year self-imposed exile in America.
His death sparked massive protests culminating in the Edsa People Power revolt in 1986 that brought down the Marcos dictatorship, and catapulted his widow Corazon to the presidency.
This holiday was created by Republic Act No. 9256, which was signed into law by Ms Arroyo on Feb. 25, 2004, the 18th anniversary of the Edsa Revolution.
Travel and leisure
The act was sponsored by then Senate President Franklin Drilon and Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.
RA 9492 moves certain public holidays and forms three-day weekends that are supposedly conducive to travel and leisure spending.
The law states that holidays, except those that are religious in nature, can be moved to the nearest Monday unless otherwise modified by law, order or proclamation.
The other movable holidays under RA 9492 are Labor Day (May 1), Independence Day (June 12), National Heroes’ Day (Aug. 31), Bonifacio Day (Nov. 30) and Rizal Day (Dec. 30).
Not covered by the policy are Christmas Day (Dec. 25), New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31), New Year’s Day (Jan. 1), Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Eid’l Fitre (Oct. 13) and All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1).
