‘#MayPasok on Aug. 22’

MANILA, Philippines — There will be classes on Aug. 22 following the declaration of Malacañang that the regular holiday in observance of the Muslim feast of Eid’l Adha or Feast of Sacrifice will be on Aug. 21, which coincides with the special holiday commemorating the death of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.

Education Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla said the department would adjust the school calendar to reflect the announcement of the Palace.

The Department of Education (DepEd) earlier noted in its school calendar for 2018-2019 that the regular holiday for Eid’l Adha is on Aug. 22.

A Facebook page affiliated with the DepEd office of undersecretary for administration even published materials declaring Aug. 22 as a regular holiday.

But following the Palace proclamation, the page said it would issue a correction to reflect the changes.

Workers are getting more than double their regular daily pay when they report for work on Aug. 21, a rare double holiday.

In an advisory, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said workers who will report for work on Aug. 21 are entitled to at least 230 percent pay.

DOLE issued the advisory amid confusion on proper pay rules due to the fact that two holidays will be celebrated on the same day.

“For work done during a regular holiday that also falls on a special day, the employee shall be paid an additional 30 percent on top of the double pay,” Bello said.

He added for work done in excess of eight hours, an employee would be paid additional 30 percent of the hourly rate for the day.

Those who reported for work on their day off shall be paid additional 50 percent for the first eight hours of work and another 30 percent of the hourly rate for the work beyond eight hours.

Bello said workers who will choose not to report for work would still receive their regular daily pay.

Holidays next year

Malacañang has released a list of holidays for next year.

A total of 21 holidays were identified by Proclamation No. 55 signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea in behalf of President Duterte last Aug. 15. 

Next year’s regular holidays are New Year’s Day (Jan. 1), Araw ng Kagitingan (April 9), Maundy Thursday (April 18), Good Friday (April 19), Labor Day (May 1), Independence Day (June 12), National Heroes Day (Aug. 27), Bonifacio Day (Nov. 30), Christmas Day (Dec. 25) and Rizal Day (Dec. 30). 

Declared as special non-working days are Chinese New Year (Feb. 5), EDSA People Power Revolution anniversary (Feb. 25), Black Saturday (April 20), Ninoy Aquino Day (Aug. 21), All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1), Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (Dec. 8) and the last day of the year (Dec. 31).

Also declared special non-working days are Nov. 2 (All Souls Day) and Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve).

The proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of Eid’l Fitr and Eid’l Adha will be issued after the approximate days of the Islamic holidays have been determined in accordance with the lunar calendar or upon Islamic astronomical calculations.   With Mayen Jaymalin, Alexis Romero