How Many Public Holidays Are There in the Philippines? A Full Breakdown for 2024 and Beyond

Hello everyone, I am your dedicated public holiday assistant. Recently, a little friend consulted me about the title of how many public holidays in Philippines. Now I will summarize the relevant problems, hoping to help the little friends who want to know.

So you’re wondering just how many public holidays the Philippines actually has, right? I get it – the Philippines is famous for having a ton of holidays, and it can be a bit confusing trying to keep track of them all. Whether you’re planning a trip, scheduling work, or just curious, I’ve got you covered. Let’s break it down nice and easy.

First off, the number of public holidays in the Philippines isn’t fixed year to year. That’s because the government can declare additional special days, move some dates around, or even add one-off holidays. But generally, there are two main categories: regular holidays and special non-working days. Regular holidays are the ones where most offices, schools, and banks shut down, and you get paid extra if you work. Special non-working days are a bit more flexible – some businesses stay open, but government offices are usually closed.

As of 2024, the official list from the Philippine government includes about 12 regular holidays and around 6 to 8 special non-working days. But wait – that’s not all. There are also additional special holidays that might be declared by local government units or the national government for specific events. For example, in election years, Election Day is declared a special non-working holiday. Plus, the President can declare a one-time holiday for things like a national celebration or a state visit.

Let’s look at the regular holidays for 2024: New Year’s Day (Jan 1), Araw ng Kagitingan (Apr 9 – though it’s often moved to a Monday), Maundy Thursday, Good Friday (both movable, based on the Catholic calendar), Labor Day (May 1), Independence Day (Jun 12), National Heroes Day (last Monday of August), Bonifacio Day (Nov 30), Christmas Day (Dec 25), Rizal Day (Dec 30). That’s ten – but wait, there are also Eid’l Fitr and Eid’l Adha, which are Islamic holidays that get added as regular holidays depending on the lunar calendar. So that bumps it up to about 12.

Then come the special non-working days: Ninoy Aquino Day (Aug 21), All Saints’ Day (Nov 1), Christmas Eve (Dec 24 – though it’s not always a holiday), and last day of the year (Dec 31). In 2024, the government also declared February 10 (Chinese New Year) as a special non-working day, plus a few others like EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary (Feb 25) – though that’s sometimes special but not always. Add in Black Saturday (the day after Good Friday) – that’s also a special non-working day.

So if you count them all, you’re looking at roughly 18 to 20 public holidays per year. But again, it changes. For example, if a regular holiday falls on a weekend, sometimes the government declares the following Monday as a holiday too. That’s called a “holiday economics” move – they do it to give people a long weekend. So in practice, the number of days you actually get off might be a little more.

I should also mention that the Philippines has “local” holidays. Each city or province can declare its own special days, like foundation anniversaries or fiestas. So if you live in a specific area, you might have additional non-working days that don’t apply nationwide.

One more thing – the government releases the official list for each year, usually in late July or August of the previous year, through a proclamation. So if you’re planning ahead, always check the latest official list from the Official Gazette or the Department of Labor and Employment. It’s not a bad idea to bookmark a good holiday calendar website like public holiday calendar.COM for quick reference.

Alright, so the short answer is: the Philippines has around 12 regular holidays and 6 to 8 special non-working days each year, totaling around 18 to 20 public holidays. But depending on movable feasts, local additions, and government proclamations, that number can vary. If you’re trying to plan your vacation days, just know that you’re generally getting more than two weeks of public holidays a year – not bad, huh?

Questions related to how many public holidays in Philippines

Let me expand on a couple of common questions I get.

1. Do all public holidays in the Philippines mean mandatory time off?
Not exactly. Regular holidays mean all employees must get time off with pay if they don’t work, or double pay if they do. Special non-working days are a bit looser – usually no work, but pay depends on company policy. And some holidays like Eid’l Fitr are for Muslims only, but the whole country observes them.

2. Are there any months with no holidays?
Usually, months like March (unless Easter falls early), September, and October might have fewer or no national holidays. But local holidays can fill in the gaps.

3. How does the Philippines compare to other countries in holiday count?
The Philippines has more public holidays than the US (which has only 10 federal holidays) but not as many as Cambodia or Sri Lanka. It’s in the upper-middle range globally.

4. Can the President add more holidays during the year?
Yes – for example, if a major event happens or for a special commemoration, a presidential proclamation can add an extra non-working day. That happened in 2023 for the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day.

5. Are school holidays the same as public holidays?
Schools often have additional breaks, like semestral breaks or summer vacation, but public holidays apply to all institutions.

In summary, the number of public holidays in the Philippines is around 18 to 20 each year, split between regular and special non-working days, with local and movable ones adding flexibility. It’s a lively holiday culture that reflects the country’s blend of religious, historical, and political celebrations.

public holiday calendar.COM Thank you for reading, I hope this article can help you fully understand the number of public holidays in the Philippines, if you have more questions, please contact us.