Baguio City – There is a good reason to enjoy the New Year in 2019. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte ordered the suspension of government work and classes in state universities and colleges on January 2. It will be a long weekend for government workers and students, especially since January 1 “New Year’s Day“ is a regular holiday as declared by the President through Presidential Proclamation 555, series of 2018. There is no work in government-owned or -controlled corporations, government financial institutions and local government units, and no classes in state colleges and universities.

However, the Presidential Order has directed agencies whose functions involve the delivery of basic and health services, preparedness and response to disasters and calamities, and/or the performance of other vital services shall continue with their operations and render the necessary services.

For private companies, it will be up to their respective managements if they plan to suspend work or not.

Start preparing your next family vacation or your class reunion and out of town with friends.    Proclamation No. 555 declared ten (10) regular holidays and nine (9) special non-working holidays for 2019.

The 2019 Philippine Regular Holidays are New Year’s Day – January 1, Tuesday; Araw ng Kagitingan – April 9, Tuesday; Maundy Thursday – April 18; Good Friday – April 19; Labor Day – May 1, Wednesday; Independence Day – June 12, Wednesday; National Heroes Day – August 26, last Monday of August;  Bonifacio Day – November 30, Saturday; Christmas Day – December 25, Wednesday and Rizal Day – December 30, Monday.

The 2019 Philippine Special Non-working Holidays are Chinese New Year – February 5, Tuesday; EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary – February 25, Monday; Black Saturday – April 20; Ninoy Aquino Day – August 21, Wednesday; All Saints Day – November 1, Friday; Feast of the Immaculate Conception – December 8, Sunday and the Last Day of the Year – December 31, Tuesday while the additional Special Holidays include All Souls Day – November 2, Saturday and Christmas Eve – December 24, Tuesday.

Not yet included in the list are the moveable holidays Eidul Fitr in June and Eidul Adha in August. The dates of these two Islamic holidays will be announced once they have been determined by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF).

So far, there are only six long weekends to look forward to: New Year, EDSA Anniversary, Holy Week, National Heroes Day, All Saints’ Day, and Rizal Day. Only the New Year (if you count the holidays before January 1), the Holy Week, and Rizal Day and New Year weekends are more than three days.

The long weekends are few and short. Some regular holidays fall on a Wednesday, such as Labor Day, Independence Day, and Ninoy Aquino’s Day. Bonifacio Day falls on a Saturday, while The Feast of the Immaculate Conception falls on a Sunday.

As always, the Labor Department reiterates its call to private sector employers to observe the pay rules and other core labor and occupational safety and health standards during the Holy Week in the interest of workers’ welfare and protection. Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III issued Labor Advisory 19 (series of 2018) pursuant to Proclamation 269 issued by President Duterte, and Republic Act No. 10966 affirming Special (Non-Working) Days on December 8, 24, and 31, 2018 and the Regular Holidays on December 25 and 30, 2018.

The payment rules for the regular holidays last December 25 (Christmas Day) and December 30 (Rizal Day); if the employee did not work, he/she shall be paid 100 % of his/her wage for that day)];  for work done during these days he/she shall be paid 200% of an employee’s regular pay for the first eight hours or [(Daily Rate +COLA) x 200%]; while work done in excess of eight hours (overtime), shall be paid an additional 30% of the employee’s hourly rate or [(Hourly Rate of the basic daily wage x 200% x 130% x number of hours worked)].

Work done during these days that also falls on employee’s rest day shall be paid an additional 30% of his/her daily rate of 200% or [(Daily Rate + COLA) x 200%] + [30% (Daily rate x 200%)]; while for work done in excess of eight hours (overtime), shall be paid an additional 30% of his/her hourly rate, or [(Hourly Rate of the basic daily wage x 200% x 130% x 130% x number of hours worked)]. However, if the employee did not report to work during these days, he/she shall still be paid 100% of his/her salary for that day or [(Daily Rate + COLA) x 100%].

For the special (non-working days), last December 8 (Feast of the Immaculate Conception) and  December 24 including December 31;  the pay rules for this holiday is for work done, an employee shall be paid an additional 30% of his daily rate on the first eight hours or [(Daily Rate x 130%) + COLA]; while for work done in excess of eight hours (overtime), he/she shall be paid an additional 30% of his hourly rate or [(Hourly Rate of the basic daily wage x 130% x 130% x number of hours worked)].

For work done during this day that also fall on employee’s rest day, he/she shall be paid an additional 50% of his/her daily rate on the first eight hours, or [(Daily Rate x 150%) + COLA]; while for work done in excess of eight hours (overtime), he/she shall be paid an additional 30% of his hourly rate, or [(Hourly Rate of the basic daily wage x 150% x 130% x number of hours worked)]. But if the employee did not work, the “ No work, No pay” principle shall apply unless there is a favorable company policy, practice or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) granting payment on special nonworking day.

END/Patrick T Rillorta