SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINESSecoiul Rcgiilnr Session

( S f f u t of th e M I'l i r i

■17 [ I C 1 2 P 1 :5 9S E N A T E

COMMITTEE REPORT NO.

Submitted by the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture on ̂ 2 2017

Re: Senate Bill No. 1270

Recommending its approval with amendments, taking into consideration Senate Bill No. 1301

Sponsor: Senator Escudero

MR. PRESIDENT:

The Committee on Education, Arts and Culture to which were referred Senate Bill No. 1270, introduced by Senator Emmanuel "Manny" D. Pacquiao, entitled:

"AN ACTDECLARING THE LAST MONDAY OF JANUARY AS

'NATIONAL BIBLE DAY' AND PRONOUNCE THE SAME A REGULAR HOLIDAYAND EVERY YEAR THEREAFTER"

And Senate Bill No. 1301, introduced by Senator Joel Villanueva, entitled:

"AN ACTDECLARING THE LAST MONDAY OF JANUARY AS

THE NATIONAL FAITH DAY"

has considered the same and has the honor to report them back to the Senate with the recommendation that Senate Bill No. 1270 be approved with the following amendments:

1. ON PAGE 1, LINE 7, REPLACE THE WORD "NATIONAL" WITH "SPECIAL WORKING" BEFORE THE WORD "HOLIDAY";

2. DELETE THE ENTIRE SECTION 4 AND RENUMBER THE SUCCEEDING SECTIONS ACCORDINGLY;

3. IN THE TITLE, REPLACE THE WORD "REGULAR" WITH "SPECIAL WORKING".

THE TITLE SHALL NOW READ AS FOLLOWS:

"AN ACT DECLARING TFIE LAST MONDAY OF JANUARY AS 'NATIONAL BIBLE DAY' AND PRONOUNCE THE SAME A SPECIAL WORKING HOLIDAY AND EVERY YEAR THEREAFTER"

Respectfully submitted:

SEN. FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO

SEN. SONNY M. ANGARA

SEN. J O ^ VILLANUEVA

Vice ClinirpArsoiis:

SEN/^HERWIN GATCHALIAN

SEN. PAOkO BENIGNO aJq UINO IV

SEN. JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO

Members:

SEN. MARIA LOUtfbES NANCY S. BIN AY . RIC J. GORDON

SEN. GRACE PO£ SEN. LOREN B. LEGARDA

SEN. EMMANUEL "MAN D. PACQUIAO SEN. CYNTHIA A. VILLA

SEN. ANTONIO "SONNY'r, F. TRILLANES IV

SEN. FRA IKO" PANGILINA

Ex-Officio Members:

SEN. fr a n k lin M. DRILON SEN. VICENTE C. SOTTO IIISemite Majority Floor Leader

SEN. RALPH G. RECTO

HON. AQUILINO "KOKO" PIMENTEL IIISenate President

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IN I UODI C I D DX ; SI'.N.X I OU IM M A N lIK K I), I’AC () l | \ ( )

AN ACT DECLARING THE LAST M ONDAY OF JAN U A R Y AS "N A T IO N A L BIBLE D A Y” AND PRONOUNCE THE SAME A REGULAR HO LIDAY AND EX/ERY YEAR THEREAFTER

EXPLANAJO R Y NOTE

The Philippine population is com prised o f ovenA/helmingly 93% Christians making it asthe Asia-Pacific ’s largest Christian population and the fifth largest C liristian population in the world.

The core of Christian belie f is grounded on the Holy Bible Sermons and homilies of Christian churches dwell in the teachings o f the Bible It is the primary source of spiritual manna It forms and transform s lives o f people from generations to (jenorations It serves as the foundation of spiritual, moral, and social fiber, which molds a socially responsible citizenry and strong nation building.

The significance of the Holy Bible was recognized by form er Piosidcjnts Ferdinand Marcos, Corazon Aguino, and Fidel Ramos in Presidential Proclamation Numtiers 22A2 44. and 1067. respectively The proclam ations are in harm ony in declaring tfie last W(.*ek of January o f every year as "National Bible W eek."

This bill seeks to boldly em phasize the holiness of The Living Truth t)y allotting a holiday for its celebration on every last Monday o f January, which shall bo known as "National Bible Day. This calls for all Christians to altogether unite and celebrate the Holy Bible as the cradle o f the Christian faith

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

EMMANUEttrrPACQUIAOSenator

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SI NA I K

S.H. No. i : ? 7 0

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AN D PR O N O I N( K H I K SA.MK A R IA .I I AR l l ( ) l . l l ) \ N AN D I \ I R \ M \R I I I K R I A I I I R

/.'<• II i iuu li d hy the Siiiatc am/ House of /{er reseutalives of the l ,hitir r mes m ( muiress (isseoihletl:

1 S i'c lio ii I .S l io r l I illo , I liis Act sluill ho k iio u ii ;is ihc / / / / . / , ■ , /c/ ”

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9

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S fc lio n 2. D c d .in tio n n| I’ olioy. It is the policy ol the St;ilc that the povcminent shall aul aiul ciKouiacc development ol the moral eharaeter and spiritual l.uindation ot the I ihpmo people.

Seelioii .3. As a pretlommanlly Christian nation and the. laruest Chnstian nation m the Asia-

I’aeilie. this Act reeoyni/es the value oh the llo lv Hihle as the eoie .dC hris tian lailh I he laM

Monday o l January and e^er> year therealter is herein deelaied as a "National Uihle l)a \ A e l” and proelaim the same as a national holiday.

Section 4. Section 20. Chapter 7, Dook I o f I Aeeutne ( )ider No. 292, otherwise known as " Ih e Adm im stratn e ( ode ol 19X7,” as amended is hereh\ .imended to read as follow s:

"S i;C . 20. Regular Holidays and Nationw ide Special Days.

( I ) Lnless fitherwise m odilied by law, oriler, oi proelamation, the titllow inp regular holidays and special days shall he observed m the eountrv:

A. Regular I lo liilavs

New ^'ear’ s Dav

N'A r io N .A i. m m K D an

Maundy I hursdav

( iood I ridav

Araw lie Kapitinyan

I.abfir Day

I ulul l itr

b iilu l Adha —

Inilependenee Day

January I

.M ()\ A D U ; DA I K

M m able Date

Mov able I )ate

Monday Nearest .April 9

Monday nearest M a\ I

Movable Date

Movable Date

Monday nearest June 12

N.ilKiniil IIcrocs Day

Monifacio Day

('lins)m as 1 )ay

R i/a l Dav

1 ast M uiulay u f A iiin ist

M oiulay DL-atvst \o v o m lK r ^0

December 25

M oiulav nearest Deeemliei 50

n. Nalionu iilc Special llo liila ys

Nmoy Aquino Day

A ll Saints Dav

Last Dav o l the 't ear

Monday nearest A iin iist 21

November 1

December 5 1

t.78

910 11

12 1 1

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r . The teims "legal or legnlai holiday" iiiu l "special holiday." as use.! m l.ius. Olliers, rules and regulations or other issuances shall be releired to as “ leiudat holiday and "special ilav ," respectively.

Seelnin 5. A ll laws, piesidential decrees, executive orders, issuances, rules and regulations and unv pan thereol' legaidmg national iionvvorkmg holidays which are meonsistent w ith the prov isions of this .Act are hereby repealed or m odilied accordingly.

Seelim i <}. Ib is Act shall take elfeet lirteen (15) days after its complete publication in the • Mlieial ( la /e tte o r at least two (2) national nevvspapeis o( general eneulalion

Approved,

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )First Regular Session )

SENATE

S.B. No. 1 3 0 1

vOHuf ol t!if :!»lnri'

•17 ,)^N 19 ra i « 3

r eceived B'.-..

In troduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA

AN ACT DECLARING THE LAST MONDAY OF JANUARY AS THENATIONAL FAITH DAY

Explanatory Note

According to the data presented by the Center for Global Education, about 94% of the population of the Philippines are Christians, 4% are Muslims, while the remaining 2% are those practicing non-Western and indigenous beliefs In fact, the Pew Research Center approximates that 90% of Filipinos consider religion very important. It further estimates that by 2050, the Philippines will be the fourth country with the largest Christian population.

This bill recognizes the religiosity of Filipinos and seeks to encourage them observe their faith in a manner that will positively influence the society. This bill also seeks to recognize the various faith groups in the Philippines and allow them, in unity, to commemorate a special day in celebrating their respective beliefs.

This bill also complements the commemoration of the “National Bible W eek” established under Proclamation Nos. 44 and 1067, which designates the last week of January of every year as the “National Bible W eek.”

Thus, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

S E N A TO F^O E L VILLANUEVA

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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session

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*17 JAN 19 An :03

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SENATE

S.B. No.

RECEIVED Sf:

Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA

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101112131415161718

AN ACT DECLARING THE LAST MONDAY OF JANUARY AS THENATIONAL FAITH DAY

Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SEC. 1. Short Title. - The last Monday of January of every year is hereby declared as the "National Faith Day."

SEC. 2. Declaration o f Principles. - It is a policy o f the State to aid and encourage the development o f the moral character and spiritual foundation o f the Filipino people.

SEC. 3. Section 26. Chapter 7. Book I of Executive Order No. 292, otherwise known as “The Administrative Code of 1987," as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows;

SEC. 26. Regular Holidays and Nationwide Special Days. - .

(1) Unless otherwise modified by law, order or proclamation, the following regular holidays and special days shall be observed in the country:

A. Regular Holidays

New Year's Day __NATIONAL FAITH DAY Maundy Thursday Good FridayAraw ng K ag itingan__Labor Day ____Eidul Fitr _____Eidul Adha Independence Day_National Heroes DayBonifacio Day______Christmas D a y _ __Rizal Day__________

January 1MOVABLE DATE 'Movable Date ___Movable Date_ _ _ _ _ Monday nearest April 9 Monday nearest May 1Movable Date ___Movable Date ___ _Monday nearest June 12_____Last Monday of August _____Monday nearest November 3 ^December25 _______Monday nearest December 30

B. Nationwide Special Holidays

678 9

1011121314151617181920 21

J^inoy^Aquino Day Monday nearest Auqusl 21All Saints Day November 1Last day of the year December 31

C. The terms “legal o r regular holidays- and “special holiday.* as used in laws, orders, rules and regulations or other issuances shall be referred to as "regular holiday" and "special day." respectively.

4 '. Sepnrabillty Clause. - If any provision o f this Act is declared unconst'tut'ona! or otherwise invalid, the validity o f the provisions shall not be affected thereby.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulationsor parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

,h= r . „ SeCJ ' E" ° clivity - This Acl shaM lak® Wieen (15) clays adnr ,ls publicalion in the Official Gazette o r at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.