MANILA, Philippines — There will be no classes and work in selected areas for the specific dates of October 2017 (12,16, 17, 19, 20) to give way for the celebration of local events, Malacañang Palace declared.
Local holidays were proclaimed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte through Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea.
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Meanwhile, Republic Acts 7350, 7677, 7724 and 1745 automatically declare specific date of the year (October 2017) for the observance of special occasion in several areas.
Observances and celebrations include foundation day, cityhood anniversary and festival. Note that such holidays are applicable only to the immediate area concerned.
Republic Act 7350: The law declares October 12 of every year as a special non-working holiday in Zamboanga City for Fiesta Pilar, the day will be devoted to religious activities honoring the La Virgen, with the Fort Pilar Shrine as the center of activities.
Republic Act No. 7677: The law declares October 16 of every year as a special non-working holiday in Oroquieta City for the cityhood celebration.
Republic Act No. 7724: The law declares October 19 of every year as a special non-working public holiday in the City of Bacolod to be known as ‘Bacolod City Charter Day’” which was approved by then Senate President Edgardo Angara, House Speaker Jose De Venecia, Jr., and former President Fidel Ramos on May 19, 1994.
Republic Act No. 1745: This regular holiday in the province of Leyte on October 20 is to commemorate the landing of American and Filipino forces in Palo Beach during the Battle of Leyte in 1944, signalling the beginning liberation of the country in the Second World War.
Proclamation No. 317: Special (non-working) holiday declared in the Municipality of Quinapondan, Eastern Samar for the celebration of its Founding Anniversary on Tuesday, October 17.
Proclamation No. 318: Special (non-working) holiday declared in the Municipality of Pigcawayan, Cotabato for the celebration of 64th Foundation Anniversary on Friday, October 20.
Special Holiday | Area | Celebration |
October 12 (Thursday) | Zamboanga City | Fiesta Pilar |
October 16 (Monday) | Oroquieta City | Oroquieta City Day |
October 17 (Tuesday) | Quinapondan, Eastern Samar | Founding Anniversary |
October 19 (Thursday) | Bacolod City | Bacolod City Charter Day |
October 20 (Friday) | Pigcawayan, Cotabato | 64th Foundation Anniversary |
October 20 (Friday) | Province of Leyte | Leyte Landing Day |
Malacañang Palace said that it is proper that the people on the said areas be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
READ: Holidays, Observances in the Philippines for 2017
As defined in the Administrative Code of 1987, Book III, Chapter 2, Section 4, Proclamations are "acts of the President fixing a date or declaring a status or condition of public moment or interest, upon the existence of which the operation of a specific law or regulation is made to depend, shall be promulgated in proclamations which shall have the force of an executive order."