The President said that former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Proclamation 1841 declared 10 regular holidays, four special non-working holidays, and a special holiday for 2010.

“Nakalagay na po ‘yan doon sa batas na ipinairal, eh. So andoon na rin ‘yung detalye, pero palagay ko kasama ‘yon (Dec. 24 and 31). Hindi ko lang alam kung hanggang saan (It’s in the law which is in effect. I just don’t know the exact details but I think those dates are included),” Aquino said in a chance interview after attending the Nationwide Barangay Assembly in Barangay Central Plaza this city on Sunday.

Proclamation 1841 stated that regular holidays for December 2010 include New Year’s Day (January 1), Christmas Day (December 25, Saturday), and Rizal Day (December 27, Monday nearest December 30).

The same proclamation included December 24 (Christmas eve) and December 31, the last day of the year, as special non-working days for December 2010.

Under Republic Act 9492 or the so-called holiday economics law holidays, except those that are religious in nature, are moved to the nearest Monday unless otherwise modified by law, order, or proclamation.

There would be no holidays for the President, however, as he said that the executive branch entails a full-time work.

He is scheduled to visit hospitals and orphanages even during Christmas Day, he said.

During the time of former President Arroyo, now a Pampanga representative, she declared long weekends during theChristmas season to boost domestic tourism as well as give time for families to bond.

Some businessmen, however, had complained about the law she signed in 2007, saying that too many holidays impose unnecessary financial burden to employers.

In his four-months in office, Aquino on some instances chose not to adhere to the “holiday economics” policy. This includes not declaring August 23, (a Monday) this year a holiday, despite August 21, the death of his father Benigno Sr. falling on a Saturday.

JC Bello Ruiz, Manila Bulletin