Proclamation No. 164, s. 2002

MALACAMANG MANILA Wied 087 Za

PMS" LIRRAPV

PROCLAMATION NO. 164

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DECLARING WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2002 AND SATURDAY, MAP.CH 30, : 2002 AS SPECIAL (NON-WORWNG) DAYS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND ALLOWING THE PRIVATE AID PUBLIC SECTORS, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, NOT TO REPORT FOR WORK ON MONDAY, MARCH 25, 2002 AND TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2002

WHEREAS, Maundy Thursday, which falls on March 28, 2002 and Good Friday, which falls on March 29, 2002 are both regular holidays;

WHEREAS, Saturday, March 30, 2002 falls between Good Friday and Easter Sunday;

WHEREAS, the Saturday falling between Good Friday and Easter . Sunday has been declared a special day throughout the country in the past;: ° ;

WHEREAS, the observance of Holy Week is one of our people’s most cherished traditions;

WHEREAS, our people must be given the full and uninterrupted> opportunity to ponder on the significance of the Holy Week and to properly. . observe its traditions with religious fervor, without prejudice to public interest.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby ceclare:

SECTION 1. Wednesday, March 27, 2002 and Saturday, March 30, 2002 shall be special (non-working) days throughout the country.

SECTION 2. Furthermore, all cmployces of government departments, offices, agencics and instrumentalitics, including government-owned or controlled corporations, shall not be required to report for work on Monday, March 25, 2002, and Tuesday, March 26, 2002, cxcept that:

a. The head of a department, office, agency, instrumentality or government-owned or controlled corporation may, if required by the exigencies of public service, require the employees of said department, office, agency, instrumentality or government-owned or controlled corporation to observe regular working hours and provide regular serviccs to the public on the said dates;

b. Employces of the Burcau of Intcrnal Revenue, Bureau of Customs ut and other = government = departments, _ offices, agencies, mest ie instrumentalitics or government-owned or controlled corporations 7 bs that impose deadlines on the transacting public for payment of . an laxcs, {ces or fines and for compliance with reportorial and other 22

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requirements, shall be required by the head of the department, olfice, agency, instrumentalily or government-owned or controlled corporation to observe regular working hours and provide regular services to the public on the said dates; and

c. Employees of government dcpartments, offices, agencies, instrumentalities or government-owned or controlled corporations providing police, security, fire protection, custodial, rescue, emergency, medical and other similar services shall be required by the head of the department, office, agency, instrumentality or . government-owned or controlled corporation to observe regular working hours and provide regular services to the public on the said dates.

SECTION 3. Heads of government departments, offices, agencies, instrumentalitics and government-owned or controlled corporations are hereby directed to issue the appropriate rulcs and regulations to implement this Proclamation.

SECTION 4. Employcrs in the private sector, except those providing banking, financial, health, security and other vital services to the public, have the option of not requiring their employces to report for work on Monday, March 25, 2002 and Tuesday, March 26, 2092: Provided, That such cmployers who opt not to require their employces to report for work arc urged to make the necessary arrangements, which may include increasing work hours or allowing work on other days before and/or after the Holy Weck, to ensure that daily paid workers are paid the equivalent of the wages or compensation that they would | have carned on the said dates and that production schedules are met to maintain a continuous supply of goods and services. All existing labor laws shall be observed.

City of Manila, = March ff, 2002.

a : PMS Li Neeeived ° By the President: MAR { 2 2nn9 Date , ALBERTO G. ROMULO Executive Secretary ve . i ae

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