Sunday, November 26, 2006 Cabaero: Holiday politics By Nini B. Cabaero Beyond 30
One criticism hurled at President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the early part of her administration was her penchant to declare holidays to appease critics or to reduce the number of warm bodies in scheduled opposition mass actions.
The declaration of no-work and no-school days became her own political tool, her critics said. It was then that the term "holiday politics" to refer to using holiday declarations for a political purpose came about. Opposition leaders thus questioned why, in her early years, the day she was to give a state-of-the-nation address to Congress was declared a holiday in Manila.
Those were the times when Filipinos enjoyed more frequent long weekends.
President Arroyo revised her stance in the succeeding years when employers pointed to the costs of overtime pay and not meeting production deadlines because of the holidays declared by government.
What happened to Cebu---the declaration of a holiday from Dec. 11 to 14 because of the Asean summit that was later revised to make it a no-holiday for private workers government employees in the security, emergency and export transactions services---is a reflection of the same holiday politics.
The first declaration was made as early as March after Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña asked the President for it to ensure the smooth hosting of the Asean summit here. The change in stance into a no-holiday declaration for private workers and some government employees was made only last week, after several petitions by Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano and the groups of bankers and exporters.
Even this new declaration is not clearing things up for the ordinary Cebuano. Those who have booked vacations on those four days have to make quick cancellations or file for absences from work. Questions remained unanswered on traffic rerouting and on how one is supposed to move from home to office and back to home with the closure of some major roads.
Confusion over the holiday declaration could have been avoided had officials not played holiday politics and if concerns of all sectors were considered before the decision was made in March.
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An addendum to my column last Tuesday titled "Where to watch next Pacquiao fight": Letter-writer Tony Padua suggested that Manny Pacquiao, from his millions of pesos in prize money, sponsor free and public showing of his future fights. This would enable those who could not afford tickets at restaurants, hotels or coliseums to join fellow Filipinos watch in real time as he battles the world's boxers.
