Philippines: Long weekends this 2023, more holidays to be added?

Manila: What better way to boost domestic tourism than to expand the official holiday calendar, from this year.

That is what a new Philippine Senate measure suggests, extending the use of "holiday economics" to increase local travel and make way for extra vacation days.

Senator Raffy Tulfo, a rookie legislator, recently introduced Senate Bill 1651, which would amend Republic Act (RA) 9492 — also known as the Act Rationalizing the Celebration of National Holidays — to declare the Monday after a holiday that falls on the weekend as a non-working day.

RA 9492, signed in 2007, states that if the holiday falls on a Wednesday, it will be observed on the following Monday.

Now, SB 1651 proposes that holidays falling on a Sunday will be observed on the following Monday. That is already done this year, but only via an presidential proclamation. The bill seeks to institutionalise it.

Moreover, the bill suggests that the President declare certain dates as non-working days for the upcoming year, on the first Monday in December.

“Holidays are integral in order to honour and commemorate special events or traditions with cultural or religious significance. These aforementioned days may at times fall on a weekend making them feel less celebratory for individuals,” the bill’s explanatory note reads.

Holidays are already adjusted this 2023 via a Presidential Proclamation No. 90 (dated November 11, 2022).

The commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) has been moved to April 10, the nearest Monday to its original date, April 9.

The proclamation likewise moves the commemoration of Bonifacio Day to November 27, the nearest Monday to the original date, November 30 (Thursday).

The proposed legislation seeks to institutionalise the adjustments.

“A longer weekend will help encourage domestic travel and increase tourism expenditures in the country,” the proclamation reads.

“The increase in the number of long weekends can help reduce stress, prevent burnout, and promote work-life balance for both employees and students by allowing them to decompress and spend time with their family and friends,” the bill stated.

The decision by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to modify the list of holidays and non-working days will enhance passengers' experiences overall, according to Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco.