Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 18) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. denied the request of the mayor of Naga City to proclaim Jesse Robredo’s death anniversary as a special non-working holiday.
Mayor Nelson Legacion wrote a letter last Aug. 10 requesting the declaration of Aug. 18 as a special non-working holiday in Naga City.
The Office of the President responded by citing Republic Act Number 10669 which declared Aug. 18 as a special working holiday in the country.
Given the presence of a legislative enactment, the president’s office said it was “constrained to deny” the mayor’s request.
Despite denying the request, the office noted that it also recognizes the importance of commemorating Robredo’s death to the people of Naga City.
An employee who works on a special working holiday is entitled only to his basic rate. Employers are not required to give premium pay since work performed on such a holiday is considered work on an ordinary working day.
An employee who works on a special non-working holiday, meanwhile, must be paid 30% more of the basic wage for the first eight hours.
Jesse Robredo was a former Naga City mayor. He was the secretary of the Departmet of the Interior and Local Government when died in a plane crash in 2012.
He was also the late husband of ex-Vice President Leni Robredo, the closest rival of Marcos in the 2022 presidential elections.
