MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday issued a proclamation declaring Dec. 26, 2022, as an additional special non-working day throughout the country.

Proclamation No. 115 was issued to “give the people the full opportunity to celebrate the holiday with their families and loved ones.”

“A longer weekend will encourage families to get together and strengthen their relationship towards a more productive environment, and will promote tourism,” the proclamation reads.

The chief executive has ordered the Department of Labor and Employment to issue the appropriate circular to implement the proclamation for the private sector.

Christmas Day, which falls on a Sunday, is observed as a regular holiday. 

Malacañang earlier updated the list of regular holidays and special non-working days for 2023, allowing “long weekends.”

Proclamation 90, released Nov. 11, amended Proclamation 42, declaring the regular holidays and special non-working days.

Under Proclamation 90, Jan. 2, 2023, which falls on a Monday, will be an additional special non-working day “in consideration of the Filipino tradition of visiting relatives and spending time with their families for this occasion.”

Jan. 1, 2023, is already a regular holiday under Proclamation 90. (PND)