ESCUDERO CLARIFIES: SENATE NO PLANS ON REDUCING THE NUMBER OF HOLIDAYS

By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Senate President Chiz Escudero clarified on Monday (12 August 2024) that the chamber has no plans to reduce the number of holidays.

“Walang issue sa holidays. Ang polisiya ng Senado, huwag nang dagdagan ‘yung mga holiday natin ngayon dahil sobrang dami na, pero wala kaming balak bawasan,” Escudero said.

“Sinabi na namin, napakahabang kwento ‘yan at hindi aabot sa Kongresong ‘yan ito. Pero sa ngayon, mahigit 23 hanggang 25 ang local at national holidays natin. Huwag na nating dagdagan,” he added.

Escudero previously said that the upper chamber agreed to limit the number of holidays to make the country ‘more competitive.’

Meanwhile, Senator JV Ejercito defended Escudero and said that the latter’s statement was misunderstood.

“To clarify, there is no proposal to reduce the current special and non-working holidays in the country,” Ejercito said.

“The Senate, following the Senate President’s instructions, has agreed that if a province already has a special non-working holiday, only one can be granted. We can declare a special working holiday, which can be converted into a non-working holiday for that year if local governments request it and the President approves it.”

(ia/mnm)