PNoy declares November 17-20 as holidays in Metro Manila due to APEC Summit 2015

President Aquino has declared November 17-20, 2015 as holidays in the National Capital Region (Metro Manila) to give way for the leaders of 27th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. The Philippines will be hosting this year's APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) scheduled on November 18-19 which will be attended by twenty-one (21) world leaders, including US President Barack Obama. The legal bases of these holidays are the following: 

(1) November 18 & 19 = Proclamation No. 1072 issued on July 13, 2015; special non-working holidays for both the public and private sectors

(2) November 17 & 20 =  Memorandum Circular No. 84 issued on September 23, 2015; holidays for government offices only, including Government-Owned or – Controlled Corporations (GOCCs)

The additional holidays in November 17 and 20 were issued by the President upon the recommendation of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation – Office of the Director General (APEC- ODG), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). 

Suspension of work in the local government units and private companies on November 16, 17, and 20 shall be on a voluntary basis.

This is the second time that the Philippines will host APEC Summit. The first one was on November 24-25, 1996, the eight (8th) summit held in Subic, Zambales.

October 28, 2013 is a special non-working holiday in the Philippines

October 28, 2013, which falls on a Monday, has been declared a special non-working holiday by President Aquino by virtue of Proclamation No. 656, series of 2013. Barangay elections will be held on that day. Filipinos will exercise their right of suffrage  and this is the time to elect officials in the barangay level.

It's a long weekend!

Here's the full text I got from the website of the Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines:

MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

PROCLAMATION NO. 656

DECLARING MONDAY, 28 OCTOBER 2013, AS A SPECIAL (NON-WORKING) HOLIDAY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

WHEREAS, the Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections shall be held on Monday, 28 October 2013;

WHEREAS, it is important to give the people the fullest opportunity to participate in the said elections and exercise their right to vote.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO, III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare Monday, 28 October 2013, as a special (non-working) holiday throughout the country for the Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

Done in the City of Manila, this 25th day of September, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Thirteen.

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

By the President:
(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA JR.
Executive Secretary