Senator Francis “Tol” Tolentino said he has been supporting the declaration of non-working holidays in local government units (LGUs) despite the opposition of some colleagues in the 18th Congress.

During hearing of the Senate Committee on Local Government on Tuesday, February 7 on several measures seeking to declare special non-working local holidays in different cities and municipalities, Tolentino maintained that a non-working local holiday has no detrimental effects on the local economy.

Instead, the celebration of a holiday fosters local autonomy and bolsters tourism, “and it augurs well for the post pandemic society,” he said.

“I still maintain that a special local holiday will work well for the local economy... it is now needed in a post pandemic Philippines. It is needed to bolster tourism and it is needed by the local economy,” Tolentino, former chairman of the Senate local government committee, stressed.

Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr,, also said he would like “to express my full support for the approval of the bills that declare local holidays in our LGUs, creation of the Office of the Building Official in all provinces, cities and municipalities, as well as the measure proposing to divide Barangay Bagong Silang in the City of Caloocan into six separate independent barangays.”

Revilla stressed the important role of local government units (LGUs) as partners in the delivery of public services that aims to make the lives of the citizens more comfortable.

He said he fully supports all the steps that would bridge to a better flow of public services to every corner of the country.

“We must, therefore, always endeavor to legislate measures that would ultimately allow them to enjoy genuine and meaningful local autonomy that will enable them to attain their fullest development as self-reliant communities,” the senator from Cavite said.

Revilla said he submitted proposals that would help in the implementation of a more effective local government management.

One of them is the creation of mandatory human resource management officer in each LGU under Senate Bill1389.

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Tolentino: Non-working local holidays boost tourism, economy