BLACK SATURDAY DECLARED SPECIAL
NON-WORKING HOLIDAY
[PHOTO
AT LEFT - Workers set up a wooden cross for the annual cenaculo in Cavite City.
Photo by MANNY MARCELO]
MANILA, MARCH 20, 2008 (STAR) By Paolo Romero - President Arroyo has declared March 22, Black Saturday, as a special non-working holiday nationwide.
In her Proclamation No. 1471, she noted that March 22 falls between Good Friday and Easter Sunday and that Saturdays that fall between the two religious days have been declared special holidays.
“The observance of the Holy Week is one of our people’s most cherished traditions,” Mrs. Arroyo said in her proclamation issued last March 13.
“Our people must be given the full and uninterrupted opportunity to ponder on the significance of the Holy Week and properly observe its traditions with religious fervor, without prejudice to public interest.”
Early in her term, the President sought to rationalize the declaration of non-working holidays by setting them on the nearest weekend to promote local tourism. Business groups, however, wanted to be advised early for proper planning.
Tourism Secretary Ace Durano earlier said some 250,000 local tourists are expected to flock to summer spots in the country during the Holy Week.
Mrs. Arroyo last January issued Proclamation No. 1463 declaring regular holidays and special non-working days for the year.
She said Republic Act 9492 of 2007 provides that holidays, except those which are religious in nature, are moved to the nearest Monday unless otherwise modified by law, order or proclamation.
She said May 1 or Labor Day has been “a long cherished tradition of workers, a holiday which trade unions fought very hard to institutionalize in the country and an international event that the workers want to celebrate on its exact date.”
Under Proclamation 1463, other regular holidays are Maundy Thursday (March 20); Good Friday (March 21); Araw ng Kagitingan (April 7, nearest Monday); Independence Day (June 9, Monday nearest June 12); National Heroes Day (Aug. 25); Bonifacio Day (Dec. 1); Christmas Day (Thursday) and Rizal Day (Dec. 30, Tuesday).
Special non-working holidays are: Ninoy Aquino Day (Aug. 18, Monday nearest Aug. 21); All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1, Saturday); and additional special non-working days on Dec. 26 (Friday) and Dec. 29 (Monday); Dec. 31 (Wednesday).
The proclamation added that the declaration for the observance of the Eid’l Fitr would be issued after the approximate date of the Islamic holiday has been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar or the Hijra or lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, whichever is possible or convenient.
Palace officials, however, said even if the non-working days are movable, this would not prevent the observance of a special event on its actual day.
Meanwhile, it’s another long weekend and hefty holiday pay for workers nationwide.
Acting Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said workers from private companies nationwide are entitled to at least 430 percent holiday pay if they would work for the next three days.
Roque noted that Black Saturday (March 22) has been declared a special non-working holiday, thus workers who would report for work shall be paid additional 30 percent.
Under the law, Roque said, workers from private companies who would be rendering more than eight hours work would get another 30 percent on top of the 130 percent pay.
Those who are scheduled to take their day off but are required to work are entitled to an additional 50 percent for the first eight hours of work and another 30 percent for work in excess of eight hours.
However, the “no work no pay” policy shall be applied to those who will not render service on that day unless there is a favorable company policy granting payment on a special day.
Those who will also render service on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday will receive 100 percent on top of their regular daily pay plus another 30 percent for services in excess of eight hours.
If the day falls on the employee’s rest day, he or she would get additional 30 percent and another 30 percent for services in excess of eight hours.
Since March 20 and 21 are regular holidays, Roque said workers are still entitled to their regular daily pay even if they will not report for work. – With Mayen Jaymalin