EIGHT no-working days cap 2008 and signal the coming of 2009.
The 8 rest days this year starts from December 25, when the traditional Christmas Day get-together packs the family together, and ends on January 1, the New Year.
The day after 25 is a Friday, and so as not to break the fun and celebrations, Malacanang has declared December 26 as an additional special non-working holiday, and so is Monday December 29.
By signing Proclamation 1463, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has caused December 26 and 29 as non-working holidays this year.
In the proclamation, the Palace hopes the additional holidays would “enable Filipinos to have more meaningful observance of Christmas and New Year, to strengthen their ties with one another”
Moreover, December 27 and 28 fall on Saturday and Sunday, so the week-end stretches the Christmas get-together celebrations.
Meanwhile, December 30, Tuesday is Rizal Day, is an annually declared holiday.
The next day, December 31 Wednesday is traditionally the last day of the year and is again a special non-working holiday.
January 1, or the New Years Day is a red latter day throughout the country.
Over these developments, state workers may not find it all to appealing as the long holidays would be a drain in the pockets.
Fresh recipients of the government’s productivity bonuses of P7T and P3T form their respective agencies, an annual P5Tcash gift and 13th month pay, the holiday cash windfall may not be enough to spend for one’s wants.
For those who indulge in honest to good-ness holiday shopping spree, they may find themselves totally emptied by the beginning of the new year. (rachiu/PIA)
