Philippines grants special days off for local festivities
Philippine Government Grants Special Non-Working Days for Local Events
In a series of proclamations issued on August 8, 2025, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. declared special non-working days for several cities and provinces across the Philippines. The grants were aimed at allowing residents to participate in significant local events, including founding anniversaries and cultural festivals.
The City of General Santos, South Cotabato, was granted a special non-working day for the 27th Tuna Festival on September 5 (Friday), as per Proclamation No. 990. Similarly, the Municipality of Dangcagan, Bukidnon, was granted a special non-working day for its Founding Anniversary on August 29 (Friday), according to Proclamation No. 988.
The Municipality of Bansalan, Davao del Sur, was granted a special non-working day for its 73rd Founding Anniversary on September 18 (Thursday), as stated in Proclamation No. 995. The City of Bais, Negros Oriental, was also granted a special non-working day for its 57th Charter Anniversary on September 9 (Tuesday), as per Proclamation No. 993.
Two separate proclamations were issued for the Municipality of Loon, Bohol (Proclamation No. 991) and the City of Digos, Davao del Sur (Proclamation No. 992), granting them special non-working days respectively for the SidlaKasilak Festival and its 25th Founding Anniversary.
The Municipality of Claver, Surigao del Norte, was granted a special non-working day for its Founding Anniversary on September 13 (Saturday), as per Proclamation No. 994. The City of Mandaue, Cebu, was also granted a special non-working day for its 56th Charter Anniversary on August 30 (Saturday), as stated in Proclamation No. 989.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin signed the proclamations on behalf of the President. The proclamations state that it is fitting and proper that the people be given full opportunity to participate in the occasion and enjoy the celebration.
It's important to note that the proclamations do not specify the exact dates of the special non-working days. The rules for payment of employees who work on special non-working days in the Philippines are as follows:
- If an employee does not work on a special non-working day, the "no work, no pay" rule generally applies, meaning they are not entitled to pay unless there is a company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement that grants payment.
- If an employee works on a special non-working day, they must be paid at least 130% of their basic wage for the first eight hours of work.
- For any work done beyond eight hours (overtime), the employee should be paid an additional 30% of the hourly rate on top of the 130% rate.
- If the special non-working day falls on the employee's rest day and they work, the pay rate increases to at least 150% of the basic wage for the first eight hours.
- For overtime work done on a special non-working day that is also the employee's rest day, the employee should receive an additional 30% of the hourly rate on top of the 150% rate for the extra hours.
These rules ensure employees receive additional compensation for working on designated special non-working days, in line with Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) guidelines.
[1] [4] [5] Philstar Global, 2025, "Special non-working days in the Philippines: What employees should know about pay rules", [online], Available at: https://www.philstar.com/business/2025/08/08/1948607/special-non-working-days-philippines-what-employees-should-know-about-pay-rules
[3] Rappler, 2025, "Here's how much you'll earn if you work on a special non-working day in the Philippines", [online], Available at: https://www.rappler.com/business/671825-special-non-working-day-philippines-pay-rules
[2] Department of Labor and Employment, 2025, "Rules on payment of wages for work done during regular holiday, special non-working day, and rest day", [online], Available at: https://www.dole.gov.ph/rules-on-payment-of-wages-for-work-done-during-regular-holiday-special-non-working-day-and-rest-day/
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