By Caryl Gonzales

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed a proclamation declaring the regular holidays and adjusting special non-working days for the year 2023.

Amending Proclamation No. 42, Proclamation No. 90 declares April 10 and November 27, 2023, as a regular holiday and January 2 as an additional special non-working day.

“There is a need to adjust these holidays pursuant to the principle of holiday economics wherein a longer weekend will help encourage domestic travel and increase tourism expenditures in the country,” Marcos noted on the proclamation released by the Office of the President (OPS.)

The proclamation explained that New Year’s Day falls on a Sunday, so in consideration of the “Filipino tradition of visiting relatives and spending time with their families, January 2 is declared as an additional special non-working day throughout the country.”

In addition, Araw ng Kagitingan, which falls on April 9, Monday, will be moved to April 10, 2023, to enable Filipinos “to avail of the benefits of a longer weekend.”

While Bonifacio Day, which is a regular holiday on November 30, will be moved to an earlier date, November 27, 2023.

Marcos said November 30 would be declared a working day while November 27 as a non-working holiday.

The proclamation was signed last November 11 and shall take effect immediately.

Here is the list of the regular holidays:

New Year’s Day - January 1
Araw ng Kagitingan - April 10
Maunday Thursday - April 6
Good Friday - April 7
Labor Day - May 1
Independence Day - June 12
National Heroes Day - August 28
Bonifacio Day - November 27
Christmas Day - December 25
Rizal Day - December 30

While, here is the list of special non-working days:

EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary - February 25
Black Saturday - April 8
Ninoy Aquino Day - August 21
All Saints’ Day - November 1
Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary - December 8
Last Day of the Year - December 31
Additional Special Non-Working Days - January 2 & November 2

The president noted that all other provisions under Proclamation No. 42, series of 2022, shall remain “unchanged, valid, and existing.”