Malacañang has set 24 June 2025 as a special non-working day in the entire province of Masbate and in Tabaco City, Albay to give residents full opportunity to celebrate their annual cultural festivals.
In two separate orders—Proclamation No. 903 for Masbate and Proclamation No. 904 for Tabaco City—Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, by authority of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., formalized the declaration on 9 May 2025.
“It is fitting and proper that the people of the Province of Masbate [and of Tabaco City] be given full opportunity to participate in the occasion and enjoy the celebration,” each proclamation states.
What will be celebrated
Bagat Dagat Festival, Masbate – A showcase of the province’s rich maritime heritage, highlighted by fluvial parades, street dances, and thanksgiving rites for bountiful seas.
Tabak Festival, Tabaco City – A tribute to the city’s founding anniversary and to the tabak (bolo knife) that symbolizes local craftsmanship and resilience. The week-long program features cultural performances, trade fairs, and a grand civic-military parade.
Implications for workers and businesses
Under the Labor Code, employees who work on a special non-working day are entitled to an additional 30 percent of their basic daily wage, while the “no work, no pay” principle applies to those who opt to take the day off, unless a company policy or collective bargaining agreement states otherwise.
Local preparations
Both provincial and city governments have begun security and traffic planning with the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire Protection. Festival committees say they expect larger crowds this year because the holiday falls on a Monday, creating a long weekend.
Background
June 24 is traditionally observed as Araw ng Maynila in the capital but has also become the fixed date for the two Bicol festivities after local ordinances aligned their celebrations with the Spanish-era feast of St. John the Baptist.
Copies of the proclamations were posted Tuesday on the Official Gazette website and transmitted to the Department of Labor and Employment for implementation guidelines.
