Melo Villareal
September 21, 2017, Is Legal Holiday In Some Areas Of Mindanao
- Islamic New Year, announced as a legal holiday in some areas of Mindanao.
- Muslim employees are excused to go to work but will still receive their usual compensation.
Selected areas of Mindanao were declared a Muslim legal holiday by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) via the Office of the President in celebration of Amun Jadid or Islamic New Year. This holiday is one of the most acknowledged occasion in the Muslim Calendar in the country through Article 169 of Presidential Decree No. 1083 (code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines) which was dated February 4, 1977. The Islamic New Year also known as Hijra is “the migration from Mecca to Medina” was the foundation of the Islamic era or 1AH in 622AD.
The Presidential Decree No. 1083 or known as Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines states that September 21 is a holiday to commemorate Muharram 1, 1439 Hijra 9 or known as the first day of Hijra year 1439).
The Muslim holiday will be celebrated in Mindanao provinces such as Basilan, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Iligan, Marawi, Pagadian, Zamboanga and is the cities of Cotabato.
“Upon proclamation by the President of the Philippines, Muslim Holidays may also be officially observed in other provinces and cities.”
Article 172 also added that “All Muslim government officials and employees in places other than those enumerated under Article 170 shall also be excused from reporting to office in order that they may be able to observe Muslim Holidays.”
“The President of the Philippines may, by proclamation, require private offices, agencies or establishments to excuse their Muslim employees from reporting for work during the Muslim holiday without reduction in their usual compensation,” in accordance to P.D. No. 1083.
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