June 5 declared as Eid’l Fitr holiday

MANILA, Philippines — In order to bring religious and cultural significance to Eid’l Fitr, President Duterte has declared June 5 as a regular holiday to give Filipinos the opportunity to commemorate the end of Ramadan.

“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,” Proclamation No. 729 read.

The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) had recommended the declaration of Wednesday next week as a national holiday in observance of Eid’l Fitr.

In his letter to Malacañang, NCMF chief Saidamen Pangarungan explained that while Ramadan started last May 6, the new moon or hilal was not seen during moon-sighting last May 4, completing the lunar month of Sha’aban in 30 days.

Pangarungan added that the Hijrah calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, which could be either 29 or 30 days a month, including Ramadan. A 30-day lunar month is usually followed by a 29-day lunar month.

He said June 5 was recommended after consultation with ulama or scholars and the Darul Iftah of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, representing Islam and Islamic legal research.

The experts also used data on lunar cycles from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

“It is, however, suggested that the Office of the President may emphasize in the Presidential Proclamation that what is being declared is the observance of Eid’l Fitr as a national holiday and that Eid’l Fitr prayer shall be performed depending on the result of another moon-sighting activity on June 3,” Pangarungan said.

He cited Republic Act 9177 or the Eid’l Fitr Holiday law.

“If the new moon is sighted, the Eid’l Fitr prayer shall be performed the following day, June 4. If not sighted, Ramadan 1440H Hijrah shall be completed until June 4,” the NCMF official said.

Duterte signed the proclamation before he left for Japan last Tuesday.

“In view of Proclamation No. 729, series of 2019 declaring June 5, 2019 as a regular holiday throughout the country in observance of Eid’l Fitr (Feast of Ramadan), there will be no work in all courts nationwide,” the SC said in an advisory released by its public information office. – With Edu Punay