Businessmen are concerned by too many holidays

Several businessmen are concerned by too many holidays in the country, which Malacañang sometimes announce close to the date, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga Jr. said Thursday. Asked if he approves of the “holiday economics" policy instituted by the previous administration where some holidays are moved to the nearest Monday, Paderanga said the policy has had “beneficial effects" and that the issue that businessmen are worried about are the proliferation of holidays. He did not name the concerned businessmen. Businesses are against the proliferation of holidays, the economic policy chief said in a press briefing in the Palace. “What I hear from them is that there are already many holidays relative to other countries. And the other one is when it’s difficult to look ahead and plan on when it will happen." Holiday announcements in the four-month-old Aquino administration are often made within the month the holiday falls.
Click here for larger version In the case of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, national holidays were rationalized via Republic Act 9492, which moved some holidays to the nearest Monday. Proclamation No. 1841 lists the holidays for the year 2010 in accordance with RA 9492, but President Benigno Aquino III chose not to follow the proclamation as when he decided not to move the commemoration of the death anniversary of his father, the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy" Aquino Jr., from Aug. 21, a Saturday, to Aug. 23, the nearest Monday. Malacañang, however, said early Thursday that RA 9492 would still be followed and moved the commemoration of Bonifacio Day from Nov. 30 to 29 or the nearest Monday. Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning head Ricky Carandang said Malacañang chose to follow the holiday economics law for Nov. 30 in response to the public clamor for longer weekends. He noted there was strong and negative response when Malacañang did not move a holiday to the nearest Monday. “Basically we’re giving the people what they seem to be asking for the last time," said Carandang. Paderanga said the holiday economics policy has its own advantages, because it allows businesses to go on continuously and avoids disrupting operations in the middle of the week. Longer weekends also encourage domestic tourism, Paderanga added. “There are pros and cons. Business is more focused on number of holidays and also their ability to plan ahead," said the socioeconomic planning secretary. — With additional table by Juan Paolo Ferrer/VS, GMANews.TV