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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Bill turning national election day into a non-working holiday hurdles House

Bill turning national election day into a non-working holiday hurdles House

Published May 26, 2026 05:39 pm

At A Glance

  • House approves HB No. 8392, declaring national election day a regular non-working holiday, on third and final reading.
  • The measure ensures voting rights by freeing voters from work concerns, encouraging more meaningful participation in plebiscites, referenda, recall elections, and other national voting processes.
  • It amends the Administrative Code to add "National Election Day" to the list of regular holidays, replacing the current classification as a special non-working holiday.
The House plenary (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
The House plenary (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)


On the strength of 233 affirmative votes, the House of Representatives on Tuesday afternoon, May 26 approved on third and final reading a bill declaring national election day as a regular non-working holiday.
Passed during plenary session was House Bill (HB) No. 8392--a pet bill of House Speaker Isabela 6th district Rep. Faustino “Bojie” Dy III and Majority Leader Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos.
Nominal vote result showed zero negative votes from congressmen, while there was one abstention.
Rep. Marcos said making a national election day as a regular non-working holiday would given voters ample time to exercise their right of suffrage. “This proposed law would free them from work-related concerns and allow them to focus on exercising their right to vote wisely,” he said.
The bill declares that “every national election shall be a regular non-working holiday to incentivize the electorate who exercise their democratic right of suffrage".
It defines a “national election” to include plebiscites, referenda, people’s initiatives, recall elections, special elections, other processes of voting of a similar nature which are national in scope".
The bill--which was passed on second reading last May 20--would amend Executive Order (EO) No. 292, also known as the Administrative Code of 1987, which enumerates “regular holidays and nationwide special days".
It includes in the enumeration “National Election Day - Day designated by law for the holding of a national election.”
Sponsoring the bill in plenary last May 20 was 4Ps Party-list Rep. JC Abalos.
Abalos says the measure aims to ensure that Filipinos can exercise their right to vote without worrying about their work, while also encouraging more thoughtful and meaningful participation in the democratic process.
Currently, Election Day is classified only as a special non-working holiday, where the “no work, no pay” policy applies.
"The day of elections is declared a special non-working holiday only by virtue of a Presidential Proclamation issued just days before the actual elections," the sponsor said.
“I believe that voters should be free from any fear or burden when exercising their right to vote. No Filipino should have to choose between helping shape the future of our nation and earning a day’s wage to support their family,” Abalos argued in plenary last week.
Under HB No. 8392, the term "national election" shall include activities such as plebiscites, referenda, people's initiatives, recall elections, special elections, other processes of voting of a similar nature which are national in scope.
The next national elections will take place on May 8, 2028.

Related Tags

ELECTION DAY House of Representatives regular holiday Sandro Marcos Faustino \"Bojie\" Dy III
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