Cebu to enjoy long weekend holidays

A long weekend is up ahead for the City of Cebu and Cebu province, along with its component cities, after President Rodrigo Duterte declared September 12, Monday, a national holiday in observance of Eid’l Adha.

September 9, Friday, is also a special non-working holiday for Cebu, based on Republic Act 6953, in honor of the Philippines’ 4th President, Sergio Osmeña Sr., dubbed as the “Grand Old Man of Cebu”.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-7) Regional Director Exequiel Sarcauga clarified that it will be a “no work and no pay” holiday on Friday, while workers will earn double pay on Monday if they will be asked to report.

“For Monday, salaries will be doubled for those who are working. Those who are not will receive a hundred percent (salary) rate,” Sarcauga told Cebu Daily News adding that companies will be monitored by DOLE for compliance of the directive on double pay.

There will be no classes in all levels for both Friday and Monday, according to Cebu City Schools Division Superintendent Bianito Dagatan.

Osmeña, grandfather of former senator Serge Osmeña III, Toledo City Mayor John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña, former Cebu governor Emilio “Lito” Osmeña and Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña was also the founder of the Nacionalista Party.

Before becoming President from 1944 to 1946, Osmeña was also governor of Cebu from 1906 to 1907.

Meanwhile, Republic Act 9849 declares Eid’l Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice a national holiday.

Eid’l Adha is the tenth day in the month of Hajj or the Islamic Pilgrimage to Mecca wherein Muslims pay homage to Abraham’s supreme act of sacrifice that signifies mankind’s obedience to God.

Duterte’s declaration for a national holiday on Monday was contained in proclamation 56, which notes that the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos recommended that the observance of the Islamic holiday be on September 12.