MANILA, Philippines — The Senate committee on local government on Monday approved – subject to some “wordings” of a technical working group – a bill declaring September 11 a special non-working holiday in Ilocos Norte to commemorate the birth anniversary of former president Ferdinand Marcos.
House Bill No. 7137, which was transmitted by the lower chamber to the Senate, seeks to declare September 11 as “President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Day” in Ilocos Norte.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian moved to endorse the bill and other measures declaring holidays in certain parts of the country to a technical working group (TWG).
“I am moving for an omnibus endorsement to the technical working group to reconcile the different versions and also to request for position papers from the other resource persons,” Gatchalian said.
Tolentino explained that Gatchalian called for the approval of all the measures, subject to a TWG discussion “as to some wording requirements.”
With no objections, the Senate panel approved the bills.
“The motion of Senator Gatchalian as clarified by the chair calls for the approval of the measures here subject to a TWG consideration, discussion as to some wording requirements to speak of,” Tolentino said.
“House Bill 5944, House Bill 2397, House Bill 2881, House Bill 6333, House Bill 7137, House Bill 7646, House Bill 7654, House Bill 149, House Bill 656, hearing no objections, are hereby all approved,” he added.
One of the House bills mentioned by Tolentino was the bill seeking to declare a “President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Day” in Ilocos Norte (House Bill No. 7137), which was authored by Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ria Fariñas, Ilocos Norte 2nd District Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba, and Probinsyano Ako Rep. Rudys Caesar Fariñas.
In 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte, through a proclamation, declared September 11 as a Special Non-Working Day in Ilocos Norte to mark Marcos’ birth anniversary.
Proclamation 310 stated that the Ilocano community would be given the opportunity to commemorate “his life and contributions to national development as a World War II veteran, distinguished legislator, and former president.”
The remains of the former president were laid to rest at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on November 18, 2016, after the Supreme Court allowed its burial at the Heroes’ Cemetery despite strong opposition from critics and human rights groups.