Senate won’t reduce, add to number of holidays

Metro Manila, Philippines – Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero clarified on Monday that there are neither efforts to reduce the number of non-working holidays nor to add to the current list.

“Wala, wala. At mahabang usapin nga iyon (None, none. And that's a long discussion),” Escudero told reporters.

This statement somewhat tweaked his earlier pronouncement of requesting a committee to explore the possibility of merging some holidays, which triggered widespread criticism on social media.

RELATED: Escudero pushes for fewer holidays

“Ang polisiya ng Senado, huwag nang dagdagan yung mga holiday natin ngayon dahil sobrang dami na pero wala kaming balak bawasan,” Escudero said.

“Sinabi na namin, napakahabang kwento yan at hindi aabot sa Kongresong ito,” he added.

[Translation: The policy of the Senate is not to add more holidays because we already have too many, but we have no plans to reduce them. We've said that it's a very long discussion and won't be addressed in this Congress.]

In a hearing on some proposed local holidays, Senate Committee on Local Government Chairman JV Ejercito said there is a need to “rationalize” the number of non-working days.

He said the government needs to balance the concerns of workers and employers.

“Sabi nga ng mga netizen, sige bawasan ninyo ang holidays babawasin din namin ang boto… Gagawin po namin kung ano ang tama,” Ejercito said.

[Translation: As the netizens said, 'If you reduce the holidays, we'll reduce our votes.' We will do what is right.]

Senator Cynthia Villar said declaring working holidays is also an option.

NewsWatch Plus Senior Correspondent Eimor Santos contributed to this report.