COTABATO CITY ― Observances of regional and special holidays in the Bangsamoro region are now more organized with the enactment of Parliament Bill No. 192, otherwise known as the Bangsamoro Holidays Act of 2023.
Filed by the Government of the Day to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament, the bill will serve as the official guide for holiday observances in the region, repealing Muslim Mindanao Act No. 17, which recognized Muslim historical and religious events and all existing Muslim holidays in the then Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The bill was approved on its third and final reading on Thursday, July 20, with 46 affirmative votes, no negations, and no abstinence.
Under BTA Bill No. 192, holidays in the region are classified into three categories: regular non-working holidays, special non-working holidays, and special working holidays.
Regular non-working holidays includes both national holidays that are observed throughout the country and regional holidays specific to the BARMM. Special holidays, which may be classified as either working or non-working days, are non-regular holidays in BARRM and certain local government units in observance of historical, religious, and other significant events.
BTA Bill No. 192 provides that a total of four regular non-working holidays, two special non-working holidays, and nine special working holidays will be observed in the BARMM.
Regular non-working holidays:
* Bangsamoro Foundation Day – January 21
* Eid’l Fit’r – Shawwal 1
* Eid’l Adha – Dul Al-Hijjah 10.
* Day of Shuhada – March 18
Special non-working holidays:
* Day of Arafah – 9th day of Dhul Hijjah
* 1st Day of Tashriq – 11th day of Dhul Hijjah
Special working holidays:
* Holidays identified in Presidential Decree No. 1083, other than those determined in the measure
* Bangsamoro Day of Solidarity – February 1
* Battle of Bud Daho Day – March 6
* Commemoration of the Signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro – March 27
* Battle of Bayang Day – May 2
* Sheikh Karimul Makhdum Day – November 7
* Shariff Kabunsuan Day December 19
* Commemoration of the Signing of the Moro National Liberation Front-Organization of Islamic Conference-Government of the Republic of the Philippines (MNLF-OIC-GRP) 1996 Final Peace Agreement and 1976 Tripoli Agreement – Observed every September 2
* Bangsamoro Indigenous Peoples’ Thanksgiving Day – on the day of the enactment of the IP Code.
Bangsamoro Holidays Act of 2023 establishes a comprehensive framework for the observance of regular and special holidays across the region, rooted in its Islamic faith, history, culture, tradition, and economic progress.
The bill mandates all private sectors, branches, subdivisions, instrumentalities, and agencies within the BARMM, and constituent local government units, to observe the holidays as declared. The measure will also apply to BARMM offices outside of the region. (Myrna Tepadan/BIO with reports from LTAIS-PIPMRD)
