Declaring the Regular Holidays and the Special (Non-Working) Days for the Year 2009
Proclamation No. 1699, issued on December 24, 2008, establishes the regular and special (non-working) holidays in the Philippines for the year 2009, in accordance with Republic Act No. 9492. Key regular holidays include Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Labor Day, and Christmas Day, while special non-working days include Ninoy Aquino Day, All Saints Day, and additional days on November 2 and December 24. The proclamation emphasizes the importance of certain holidays for family ties and domestic tourism, particularly around All Saints Day and Christmas. Additionally, provisions are made for the declaration of Eid'l Fitr based on the Islamic calendar. The Department of Labor and Employment is tasked with implementing the guidelines for this proclamation.
December 24, 2008
PROCLAMATION NO. 1699
DECLARING THE REGULAR HOLIDAYS AND THE SPECIAL (NON-WORKING) DAYS FOR THE YEAR 2009
WHEREAS, Republic Act (RA) No. 9492, dated July 24, 2007, amended Section 26, Chapter 7, Book 1 of Executive Order (EO) No. 292, also known as the Administrative Code of 1987, by declaring certain days (specific or movable) as special or regular holidays;
WHEREAS, RA No. 9492 provides that holidays, except those which are religious in nature, are moved to the nearest Monday unless otherwise modified by law, order or proclamation; ESHcTD
WHEREAS, May 1 (Labor Day) has been celebrated on its exact day as long cherished tradition of workers who fought very hard to institutionalize such a holiday in the country, as well as an international event celebrated on such exact date;
WHEREAS, in order to foster closer family ties during All Saints Day, as well as to enable our countrymen to observe Christmas more meaningfully, declaring November 2 (Monday) and December 24 (Thursday) as additional special (non-working) day throughout the country will strengthen the family relationship by providing longer weekends and renews ties for a longer period of time, as well as to promote domestic tourism.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:
SECTION 1. The following regular holidays and special days for the year 2009 shall be observed in the country:
| A. Regular Holidays | ||
| Maundy Thursday | — | April 9 |
| Good Friday | — | April 10 |
| Araw ng Kagitingan | — | April 6 (Monday), Monday nearest April 9 |
| Labor Day | — | May 1 (Friday) |
| Independence Day | — | June 12 (Friday) |
| National Heroes Day | — | August 31 (Monday), Last Monday of August |
| Bonifacio Day | — | November 30 (Monday) |
| Christmas Day | — | December 25 (Friday) |
| Rizal Day | — | December 30 (Wednesday) |
| B. Special (Non-Working) Days | ||
| Ninoy Aquino Day | — | August 21 (Friday) |
| All Saints Day | — | November 1 (Sunday) |
| Additional special (non-working) day | — | November 2 (Monday) |
| Additional special (non-working) day | — | December 24(Thursday) |
| Last Day of the Year | — | December 31 (Thursday) |
SECTION 2. The proclamation declaring a national holiday for the observance of Eid'l Fitr shall be issued after the approximate date of the Islamic holiday has been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar (Hijra) or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, whichever is possible or convenient. To this end, the Office on Muslim Affairs shall inform the Office of the President on which day the holiday shall fall. IEAacT
SECTION 3. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) shall promulgate the implementing guidelines for this Proclamation.
SECTION 4. This Proclamation shall take effect immediately.
SECTION 5. This Proclamation shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and cause the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.
DONE in the City of Manila, this 24th day of December, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Eight.
Published in The Manila Times on January 9, 2009.