President Marcos has declared Sept. 15 as a special nonworking holiday in 15 Camarines Sur towns around and near Naga City which will be celebrating the Peñafrancia Festival.
Proclamation No. 332, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Sept. 5 and posted on the Official Gazette website on Wednesday, declared the special nonworking holiday in the municipalities of Bombon, Canaman, Calabanga, Camaligan, Gainza, Libmanan, Magarao, Milaor, Minalabac, Ocampo, Pasacao, Pamplona, Pili, San Fernando and Bula.
The date is already a holiday in Naga by virtue of Proclamation No. 654 issued in 2013 which declares the Friday immediately preceding the Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia every year as a nonworking holiday in the city.
The Our Lady of Peñafrancia is venerated by the Catholic faithful as the patroness of Bicol.
The festival is capped by a fluvial procession of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia image from the Naga Cathedral to its shrine in the Peñafrancia basilica. —JEROME ANING