Escudero clarifies: Let’s not add more holidays

NO INTENTION TO REDUCE HOLIDAYS: Senate President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero, during Monday’s media interview, August 12, 2024, clarifies that the Senate has no intention to reduce the current number of holidays. —Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Francis Escudero clarified on Monday that the chamber is not seeking to reduce the number of existing holidays in the country.

Speaking to reporters in an ambush interview, he said the upper chamber’s stand is that there’s too much holidays now and there’s no longer a need to add more.

“There is no issue with the existing holidays. The Senate‘s stand is not to increase the number of existing holidays because there are too many already. We have no intention of reducing them,” said Escudero.

READ: Labor unions oppose cuts in holidays

“As we have already said, the issue will demand lengthy discussions. Right now we have more than 23 to 25 local and national holidays. Let’s not add more,” he added.

In the same interview, the Senate chief likewise noted that he is not aware if there are studies correlating the productivity of workers and the number of holidays in the country.

“What we are just saying is that let’s not add more. Another Congress will look and figure it out. We won’t be the one doing it,” he said.

Asked if there is an existing order to study the possible merging of existing holidays, he said none.

He also emphasized that there are no Senate committees, at present, studying the merging of Philippine holidays.