OCTOBER 19 is still a special non-working public holiday in Bacolod City.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said on Monday, October 15, that the newly approved House Bill (HB) No.7044 declaring June 18 as Bacolod City’s Charter Day has not been signed as a law yet.
He cited the legal opinion issued by City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan, who said that Section 2 of Republic Act (RA) 7724, or the Bacolod City Charter Day, stated that October 19 of every year is declared as a special non-working holiday in the City of Bacolod, which is clearly self-executory.
“Although there is the HB No. 7044 enacted by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, approved on September 19, 2018, and the same is now with the Office of the President for signing pending such final act and the subsequent publication to have such Bill a matter of law, the aforecited Section 2 of RA 7724 remains applicable until repealed by the new law changing the charter celebration to June 18 of every year,” Bayatan added.
Last month, 20 senators voted in favor of the HB 7044 declaring June 18 as the Bacolod City Charter Day. This also means the city’s inauguration will be commemorated every October 19 while the MassKara Festival will be celebrated every fourth Sunday of October.
Familiaran said hopefully by next year, June 18 will be the city’s official non-working public holiday instead of October 19.
He said they were advised by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri that the approved bill was already forwarded to the office of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“We will wait until it will be signed by the President, but for now, October 19 is still a non-working holiday,” he added.