Having a three-day vacation is one of the small good things that an ordinary employee can get. That’s why if you will ask the people what they like about the past administration (GMA administration), it’s the implementation of long weekends everytime a non-working holiday falls on weekdays. Back in GMA’s reign,long-weekends had been implemented for a practical reason that it would be beneficial for the Filipino people to have a long vacation rather than a “choppy” one.
In the Section 1 of Republic Act 9492, it says that the president has the empowerment to modify holidays by proclamation. During the GMA administration, a lot of long-weekends are being implemented which sure gave the employees smiles. Well, if you will notice, when the Aquino Administration took over, the long-weekend vacation just simply went off the trend. Is there are possibility that Aquino will imitate what GMA had been applying before?
Some people think that it’s possible but not to the extent that every non-working holiday on the calendar should be moved. For a subjective opinion, it would teach employees to be lazy. On the various firms’ end, it will not be beneficial because a single day of operation halt is worth a lot in the their profit gains. But if you will look at the employees end, especially those whose houses are a few provinces away, they will get practical benefits like not having to travel and spend more, get more rest and longer family bonding.
However, there had been reports that a long week-end is happening this coming June 20, 2011. Based on the Proclamation No. 154, the special non-working holiday will give Filipinos the opportunity to commemorate the deeds and sacrifices of the country’s national hero, Jose Rizal. Due to the request of National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the supposed-to-be date of June 19, 2011 will be moved on June 20 instead. This report is still subject to change depending on the government’s decision.
Well, take a look at the bright side, a long-weekend is possible and employees will have something to root for on the coming months!