Declaring Certain Dates of Islamic Calendar as Holidays

November 13, 2002

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9177

AN ACT DECLARING THE FIRST DAY OF SHAWWAL, THE TENTH MONTH OF THE ISLAMIC CALENDAR, A NATIONAL HOLIDAY FOR THE OBSERVANCE OF EIDUL FITR, AND THE TENTH DAY OF ZHUL HIJJA, THE TWELFTH MONTH OF THE ISLAMIC CALENDAR, A REGIONAL HOLIDAY IN THE AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO (ARMM) FOR THE OBSERVANCE OF EIDUL ADHA, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 26, CHAPTER 7 OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 292, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF 1987, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

SECTION 1. The first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, is hereby declared a national holiday for the observance of Eidul Fitr, and the tenth day of Zhul Hijja, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar is hereby declared a regional holiday in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) for the observance of Eidul Adha.Eidul Fitr is the first day marking the end of the thirty (30)-day fasting period of Ramadhan. Eidul Adha is a tenth day in the month of Hajj or Islamic Pilgrimage to Mecca wherein Muslims pay homage to Abraham's supreme act of sacrifice and signifies mankind's obedience to God.

The approximate date of these Islamic holidays may be determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar (Hijra) or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, whichever is possible or convenient.

SECTION 2. Section 26, Chapter 7 of Executive Order No. 292, otherwise known as the Revised Administrative Code of 1987, is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 26. Regular Holidays and Nationwide Special Days.— (1) Unless otherwise modified by law, order or proclamation, the following regular holidays and special days shall be observed in the country:

a.	Regular Holidays
	New Year's Day	-	January 1
	Maundy Thursday	-	Movable Date
	Good Friday	-	Movable Date
	Eidul Fitr	-	Movable Date
	Araw ng Kagitingan	-	April 9
	(Bataan and Corregidor Day)
	Labor Day	-	May 1
	Independence Day	-	June 12
	National Heroes Day	-	Last Sunday of August
	Bonifacio Day	-	November 30
	Christmas Day	-	December 25
	Rizal Day	-	December 30
b.	Nationwide Special Holidays
	All Saints Day	-	November 1
	Last Day of the Year	-	December 31

Provided, however, That Eidul Adha shall be celebrated as a regional holiday in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao."

SECTION 3. The implementation of this Act shall be under the supervision of the Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA) which shall promulgate the rules and regulations pursuant to the provisions of this Act. The Grand Mufti may submit his suggestion relative to said rules and regulations for consideration by the Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA).

SECTION 4. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, issuances, rules and regulations, and any part thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved: November 13, 2002

Published in the Manila Times and Today on November 19, 2002. Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 99 No. 4 page 446 on January 27, 2003.