Muslims in the country will be celebrating the end of Ramadan or Eid al-Fitr on July 6, but Malacañang is yet to make an official holiday proclamation for the celebration. (inquirer.net)
DAVAO CITY —Not yet official.
Malacanang on Sunday said that the public should wait for an official announcement with regard to the declaration of July 6 as a national holiday in observance of the end of Ramadan, or Eid al-Fitr.
In an interview over state-run radio dzRB, Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar said that the announcement may be made on Monday or Tuesday.
“Well, napag-usapan namin iyan ni Executive Secretary (Salvador) Medialdea at ito po ay sa July 6. Pero hintayin na lang po natin ‘yong opisyal na announcement ngayong darating na Lunes or Martes po (Executive Secretary Medialdea and I talked about [Eid al-Fitr] which will be on July 6. But let us just wait for the official announcement on Monday or Tuesday),” Andanar said.
Eid al-Fitr is the first day marking the end of the 30-day fasting period during Ramadan.
Republic Act No. 9177, which was approved by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2002, provides that only the Office of the President can declare the Eid al-Fitr as a regular holiday, upon the recommendation of the National Commission of Muslim Filipinos.