(MANILA BULLETIN)

The measure seeking to declare every national election as a nationwide regular non-working holiday is now one step closer to becoming a law.

This, after the House of Representatives unanimously approved on third and final reading House Bill (HB) No.8187 during plenary session Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 2.

The measure, which received 198 affirmative votes during nominal voting, seeks to incentivize the electorate and encourage them to exercise their democratic right to vote during the proposed non-working holiday.

“With this proposed legislation, we hope to get the maximum participation of our voters in the national elections which is one of the most important activities that they should do as Filipinos," Speaker Martin Romualdez said.

"The right to suffrage is guaranteed by our Constitution and we want to value and protect this right by making sure that voters would no longer worry about missing work,” said Romualdez, leader of the 312-strong chamber.

He said HB No.8187 will also benefit the voters who work in Metro Manila or other places and need to file for leaves just so they can travel to their provinces.

"We want to make sure that we assist them by declaring national elections as a regular holiday so they can exercise their right to vote hassle free,” said the Leyte’s 1st district congressman.

Under HB No. 8187, the term “national election” shall include activities such as plebiscite, referendum, people’s initiative, recall election, special election, regional elections, and other processes of voting of a similar nature which are national in scope.

It seeks to amend Section 26, Chapter 7, Book I of Executive Order (EO) No. 292, otherwise known as “The Administrative Code of 1987”, as amended. There are currently 12 regular holidays and two nationwide special days under the Administrative Code.

The last general election in the Philippines was held on May 9, 2022. The next midterm and presidential elections will happen in 2025 and 2028, respectively.

Among the authors of the bill are Reps. JC Abalos, Maximo Dalog Jr., Elipidio “Pidi” Barzaga Jr., Ma. Victoria Co Pilar, Keith Micah D.L. Tan, and France Castro.