Philippine Presiden Ferdinand Marcos Jr Eid holitday
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, through Proclamation 258, declared Eid Al Adha a regular holiday throughout the country on June 28, 2023. Image Credit: Twitter

Manila: Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. declared Wednesday (June 28, 2023) as a national holiday in observance of Eid Al Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice observed by Muslims around the world.

The chief executive signed Proclamation 258, signed on June 13, which declared the feast a regular holiday throughout the country, through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

Eid Al Adha, a time of celebration where Muslims gather for prayers, visit family and friends, exchange gifts, and enjoy feasts, marks the end of Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the two Islamic holidays celebrated across the world every year.

To honour country's Islamic heritage, the Philippine government in 2002 established Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha as national holidays, by virtue of Republic Act 9177 and Presidential Proclamation 1083.

Paid holiday

As a regular national holiday, Eid Al Adha gives all workers in both the public and private sectors a holiday; those who will not show up for work will still receive 100 per cent of their pay.

Employees who report to work on regular holidays are to be paid 200 per cent of their daily wage rate in the first eight hours.

Workers must receive an additional 30 per cent of their hourly rate that day for work rendered in excess of eight hours or overtime.

The president's Eid declarations are typically announced after the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos informs his office of the dates for Islamic holidays.