PBBM to Study Revert of Feb. 25 as Non-Working Holiday

Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will study proposals to declare Feb. 25 a non-working holiday anew in observance of the EDSA People Power Revolution anniversary, Malaca±ang said on Tuesday. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that Marcos would review the recommendations and consider their implications before making any decision.

According to Philippines News Agency, on Monday, Akbayan Party-list Representatives Chel Diokno, Perci Cenda±a, and Dadah Kiram Ismula, along with Dinagat Islands Lone District Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, filed House Bill (HB) 7911, for the regular holiday declaration remembering the peaceful uprising along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) in February 1986. Feb. 25 was a special non-working holiday until 2022.

The bill, HB 7911, emphasizes the State's duty to preserve historical truth and honor the collective courage of the Filipino people. It provides for the necessary appropriations to support commemorative and educational activities, particularly through the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).

The proposed measure designates the NHCP, in coordination with relevant government agencies, as the lead agency in organizing and coordinating activities for the EDSA People Power Day. This is intended to provide an opportunity for educational institutions, government agencies, and civil society organizations to conduct programs that preserve historical truth and promote democratic values and human rights awareness.