House to discuss bill declaring Chinese New Year a nonworking holiday

In recognition to the contribution of the Chinese people to the country, the House of Representatives is set to discuss in the plenary when session resumes a consolidated bill declaring Chinese New Year a special nonworking public holiday. At present, the celebration of Chinese New Year is a regular day. "Considering our long relations with the Chinese, many of whom have adopted the Philippines as their home, it is but just to help preserve some of their valued traditions," said Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, who authored House Bill 1062 with his brother, Abante Mindanao Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr. The House committee on revision of laws, headed by Pangasinan Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, has consolidated House Bill Nos. 1072, 611 and 2715 and approved it for floor deliberation. The bills seek to recognize the great contributions of the Chinese-Filipino in Philippine society and their rich cultural traditions. Congress is set to resume sessions on January 17 after its Yuletide break. Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara said the consolidated bill would further strengthen Filipino-Chinese relations. By declaring the Chinese New Year as a nonworking special holiday, mutually beneficial relations would be further enhanced, said Angara, author of House Bill 611. He said the Filipinos' long association with the Chinese people has resulted in cultural enrichment. Northern Samar Rep. Emil Ong, author of House Bill 2715, said in view of the close Filipino-Chinese relations, it is but proper to declare Chinese New Year as a regular holiday. As a nation where more than 25 percent of the population has the Chinese bloodline, the passage of the measure is the most convenient way to thank the Chinese for their contribution to our history, Ong said. After the House members discuss the bill on the plenary, they will vote for its approval or rejection. Once the chamber approves the bill on second reading, it will have to go through another deliberation for third reading. Once the House approves it on third reading, it will be submitted to the Senate for consideration. The Senate will either adopt the House-approved bill or come up with its own version. A similar bill — Senate Bill 550 authored by Senate Pro Tempore Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada — is pending before the Senate committee on education, arts and culture. If there will be differences in the versions of the House and Senate, a bicameral conference committee will be convened to reconcile it. The reconciled bill will be returned to the House and Senate for ratification and then sent to the President for signature. — with Kim Tan/KBK, RSJ, GMANews.TV