Sunday, November 23, 2008 'Holiday economics' for Christmas hailed By Jovi T. De Leon
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's "holiday economics" for the Christmas season has been lauded here by government and private employees and balikbayans who have started trickling down in the province for family reunions and get-togethers.
Last week, Arroyo declared December 1 a special non-working holiday as it is the nearest date following November 30, which is National Heroes' Day, making the long weekend a prelude to a December filled with many more holidays.
The President's declaration is anchored on her "holiday economics" designed to allow the country's workforce and their families to spend more time together.
Aside from December 1, Malacañang has also declared December 26, the Friday after Christmas, and December 29, the Monday before Rizal Day on December 30 as non-working holidays, making Christmas weekends a bit longer.
Employees of local offices have expressed their excitement to the longer weekends and additional holidays, saying they would definitely find it a respite after a year of hard work.
A manager of a commercial bank said the additional holidays would give them more time for season parties and reunions and would not have to "squeeze" everything in their hectic schedules.
The banker hinted that the last day of banking will still be on December 24, so people he said, would have no worries on their transactions that would pass through the seven-day break, the longest holiday week of the year so far.
Pursuant to Proclamation 1463, which the President signed last February 18, the other holidays already declared by Malacañang for the rest of this year are the regular holidays on Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day), and Tuesday, December 30 (Rizal Day), as well as Wednesday, December 31, as a special non-working holiday.
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