Malacañan Palace declares July 6 a National Holiday (Eid’l Fitr)

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said President Duterte signed the proclamation declaring July 6, Wednesday, a national holiday in observation of the Eid’l Fitr.

Eid’l Fitr as a National Holiday

Under Republic Act 9177, the government is mandated to declare Eid’l Fitr a national holiday. Eid’l Fitr marks the end of Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Eid’l Fitr also known as “End of Ramadan” or “Pagtatapos ng Pag-aayuno” is a national holiday that commemorates the end of Islamic holy month of fasting. Though the Philippines is a Christian country in general, the date has been imposed as national holiday through RA 9177 since 2002 in respect of the country’s Muslim community.

The celebration depends on in the lunar calendar (moon-sighting). The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) is the commission in charge to inform the Office of the President on which date it will fall.

Republic Act No. 9177

AN ACT DECLARING THE FIRST DAY OF SHAWWAL, THE TENTH MONTH OF THE ISLAMIC CALENDAR, A NATIONAL HOLIDAY FOR THE OBSERVANCE OF EIDUL FITR, AND THE TENTH DAY OF ZHUL HIJJA, THE TWELFTH MONTH OF THE ISLAMIC CALENDAR, A REGIONAL HOLIDAY IN THE AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO (ARMM) FOR THE OBSERVANCE OF EIDUL ADHA, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 26, CHAPTER 7 OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 292, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF 1987, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. The first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, is hereby declared a national holiday for the observance of Eidul Fitr, and the tenth day of Zhul Hijja, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar is hereby declared a regional holiday in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) for the observance of Eidul Adha. Eidul Fitr is the first day marking the end of the thirty (30)-day fasting period of Ramadhan. Eidul Adha is a tenth day in the month of Hajj or Islamic Pilgrimage to Mecca wherein Muslims pay homage to Abraham’s supreme act of sacrifice and signifies mankind’s obedience to God.

The approximate date of these Islamic holidays may be determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar (Hijra) or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, whichever is possible or convenient.

SEC. 2. Section 26, Chapter 7 of Executive Order No. 292, otherwise known as the Revised Administrative Code of 1987, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 26. Regular Holidays and Nationwide Special Days. — (1) Unless otherwise modified by law, order or proclamation, the following regular holidays and special days shall be observed in the country:

a. Regular Holidays

New Year’s Day – January 1
Maundy Thursday – Movable Date
Good Friday – Movable Date
Eidul Fitr – Movable Date
Araw ng Kagitingan (Bataan and Corregidor Day) – April 9
Labor Day – May 1
Independence Day – June 12
National Heroes Day – Last Sunday of August
Bonifacio Day – November 30
Christmas Day – December 25
Rizal Day- December 30

b. Nationwide Special Holidays

All Saints Day – November 1
Last Day of the Year – December 31

Provided, however, That Eidul Adha shall be celebrated as a regional holiday in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.”

SEC. 3. The implementation of this Act shall be under the supervision of the Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA) which shall promulgate the rules and regulations pursuant to the provisions of this Act. The Grand Mufti may submit his suggestion relative to said rules and regulations for consideration by the Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA).

SEC. 4. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, issuances, rules and regulations, and any part thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

(Sgd.) FRANKLIN M. DRILON
President of the Senate

(Sgd.) JOSE DE VENECIA, JR.
Speaker of the House
of Representative

Malacañan through Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar said in an interview on State-Run Radyo ng Bayan that it is likely that the holiday, Eid’l Fitr, will be declared on Wednesday, July 6, 2016 under the Proclamation No. 06, s. 2016.

Proclamation No. 06, s. 2016

DECLARING WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 2016, AS A REGULAR HOLIDAY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY IN OBSERVANCE OF EID’L FITR (FEAST OF RAMADAN)

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 9177 declared Eid’l Fitr (Feast of Ramadan) as a regular holiday throughout the country;

WHEREAS, Eid’l Fitr is celebrated by the Muslim world for three (3) days after the end of the month of fasting;

WHEREAS, the entire Filipino nation should have the full opportunity to join their Muslim brothers and sisters in peace and harmony in the observance and celebration of Eid’l Fitr; and

WHEREAS, in order to bring the religious and cultural significance of Eid’l Fitr to the fore of national consciousness, it is necessary to declare Wednesday, 6 July 2016, as a regular holiday throughout the country.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RODRIGO R. DUTERTE, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare Wednesday, 6 July 2016, as a regular holiday throughout the country in observance of Eid’l Fitr (Feast of Ramadan).

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and cause the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

Done in the City of Manila, this 4th day of July, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Sixteen.

(Sgd.) RODRIGO R. DUTERTE
President

By the President:
(Sgd.) SALVADOR C. MEDIALDEA
Executive Secretary

Sources: gov.ph; Manila Bulletin on Facebook