Chiz: Senate agreed to limit approval of holiday bills

National

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero announced that the Senate has agreed to limit the approval of bills on local holidays in an effort to make the country more competitive.

In a press briefing last week, Escudero explained that the Senate aims to reduce the number of holidays. He added that the numerous local holidays in every city, municipality, and province, along with national and religion-related holidays, result in over a month of holidays each year.

This abundance of holidays, he argued, makes Philippine companies and workers less competitive.

Escudero cited the example of the United States, where all presidents are commemorated on a single Presidents' Day. He contrasted this with the Philippines, where multiple holidays are declared for individual heroes and significant events.

A study on the US holiday format is currently underway, Escudero revealed, but he acknowledged that the proposal might cause division among senators. Despite this, he emphasized the importance of starting the process to address the issue.

Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma highlighted the pros and cons of limiting local holidays.

He said that while numerous holidays affect productivity, they also provide additional incentives for workers who choose to work during these days.

As of 2024, there are 10 regular holidays and several special non-working days in the Philippines, including New Year's Day, Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor), and National Heroes Day. Additional holidays are declared for the observance of Islamic holidays such as Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha.(MyTVCebu)