PGMA Lays Out Holiday Schedule for 2009

Tacloban City -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed on December 24, 2008, Proclamation 1699 that lays out the holiday schedule for this year.

Consistent with the President's advocacy of holiday economics to boost domestic tourism and to allow Filipinos to have more time with their families, there will be ten long holidays in 2009.

Holiday economics entails the transfer of some holidays to a Monday or a Friday so that Filipinos may enjoy longer weekends.

Malacañang maintained that consultations were made with all sectors concerned, including the business community, before issuing this year's holiday list.

The first is a three-day weekend before the Easter break, the observance of the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) on April 9 which is a Thursday, was moved to the nearest Monday which is April 6.

Then this is followed by the four-day Easter holidays from April 9 which is Maundy Thursday, until April 12 which is Easter Sunday.

Four regular holidays fall on either Friday or Monday which results in a three-day week-end. These are Labor Day on May 1 which falls on a Friday; Independence Day on June 12 which falls on a Friday; National Heroes Day on August 31 which falls on a Monday; and Bonifacio Day on November 30 which falls on a Monday.

The other regular holidays are Christmas Day on December 25 which falls on a Friday, and Rizal Day on December 30 which falls on a Wednesday.

President Arroyo also declared the following as Special Non-Working Days: Ninoy Aquino Day on August 21 which falls on a Friday; All Saints Day on November 1 which falls on a Sunday and All Souls Day on November 2 which falls on a Monday.

Christmas Eve on December 24 which falls on a Thursday, has also been declared as a Special Non-Working Day this year.

Another Special Non-Working Day is New Year's Eve on December 31 which falls on a Thursday.

So, there will be a longer Christmas holiday in 2009 and this will start on December 24, Christmas Eve. (PIA 8)

Source: Office of the President