Will it be a holiday on January 2? Malacañang says no.
JANUARY 2 HOLIDAY – According to the Malacañang, as an answer to a query, the 2nd of January 2024 will not be a holiday.
January 1, 2024, a Monday, was already declared a holiday by the Palace. This is the first holiday for the year 2024. Will January 2, a Tuesday, be also a holiday?
The reporters asked this and Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil confirmed on Friday there will be no declaration for this day. Garafil quipped, “Wala po.”
The present administration of President Bongbong Marcos adopted the “holiday economics” in 2022 via Proclamation No. 90. Under this proclamation, the national holidays are adjusted to have a longer weekend which will “encourage domestic travel and increase tourism expenditures in the country”.
Meanwhile, the 2024 Philippine holidays under Proclamation 368 dated October 11 and signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin as declared by the President Marcos are:
- January 1 – New Year’s Day
- March 28 – Maundy Thursday
- March 29 – Good Friday
- April 9 – Araw ng Kagitingan
- May 1 – Labor Day
- June 12 – Independence Day
- August 26 – National Heroes Day (Last Monday of August)
- November 30 – Bonifacio Day
- December 25 – Christmas Day
- December 30 – Rizal Day
Special non-working days:
- February 10 – Chinese New Year
- March 30 – Black Saturday
- August 21 – Ninoy Aquino Day
- November 1 – All Saints’ Day
- November 2 – All Souls’ Day
- December 8 – Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary
- December 24 – Christmas Eve
- December 31 – Last day of the year
The list excluded February 25, the anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution. As much as we all know, this event in history ended the decades-long dictatorship of PBBM’s father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
According to the Malacañang, it was not included because February 25, 2024 falls on a Sunday. Based on a statement, “There is a minimal socio-economic impact in declaring such day as a special non-working holiday since it coincides with the rest day for most workers/laborers.”
It added that the Office of the President remains respectful for the commemoration of the EDSA People Power Revolution.
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