Malacañang is yet to make official the declaration of Nov. 29, 2021 and Dec. 1, 2021 as special working days ahead of a planned three-day nationwide vaccination drive.
Despite this, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles found it best to explain to Filipinos how the set-up will work, as well as the justification behind it.
In a virtual press conference Tuesday, Nov. 23, Nograles confirmed that the current recommendation is for the Palace to declare Nov. 29 and Dec. 1 as special working days, and not special non-working days.
"Yan po yung recommendation at kanya nga po yan ay nirerekomenda ay para naman po yung mga kailangang magpabakuna ay mayroon po silang, kumbaga, mayroon silang--mabibigyan sila ng pahintulot at permiso ng kanilang mga employer na magpabakuna on those days. Kaya ang naisip is special working holidays (That's the recommendation and the reason for that is to give those who are going to be vaccinated permission from their employers to avail of jabs on those days. That's why the suggestion was to declare special working holidays)," he said.
The three-day "“Bayanihan, Bakunahan” or simultaneous nationwide vaccination drive against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) will take place from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1.
Sandwiched between those two dates is Nov. 30, or Bonifacio Day. Bonifacio Day is already a regular holiday, meaning work is suspended that day.
"Yung hindi naman kailangang magpabakuna dahil tapos na at hindi naman kasama doon sa kailangang magpabakuna ay makapagtrabaho para naman umandar ang ating ekonomiya (Those who don't need to get vaccinated because they're already fully vaccinated and don't need shots will work in order to keep the economy running)," Nograles said.
"Alam niyo naman na napaka-importante po ng fourth quarter para sa ating economic growth (You know that the fourth quarter is important for our economic growth)," the acting presidential spokesperson pointed out.
The fourth and final quarter of the year is traditionally the strongest quarter in terms of business. This is due to the onset of the Christmas season.
"Yun po yung naging recommendation, abangan na lang po natin ano yung ilalabas na issuance mula sa Malacañang (That was the recommendation, let's just wait for the issuance that will come from Malacañang)," Nograles said, referring to the expected executive order declaring the two dates as special working days.
Click here to read about the declared regular holidays and special non-workings days for 2022.