Dec. 24, 31 special non-working days

TARLAC CITY, Philippines  – President Aquino announced yesterday that Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 would be special non-working days based on Proclamation No. 1841.

“That is already stated in the law,” the President said in an ambush interview after the Barangay Assembly Day in Barangay Central here.

Under the same proclamation, Christmas Day is a regular holiday. Dec. 24 and 31 fall on Friday while Christmas Day is a Saturday.

However, the Palace has yet to announce when Rizal Day would be celebrated because the holiday was moved from Dec. 30 to Dec. 28 last year, since it was the Monday nearest Dec. 30, in order to have a long weekend under the “holiday economics” formula.

The President said he would still be working on Christmas Day because there were activities lined up for him like visits to orphanages, hospitals and those on duty in the military and the police.

He said the job of the chief executive is 24 hours, seven days a week.

“There is no vacation envisioned. And we’re serious,” Aquino said.