#WalangPasok – September 27 2023 declared holiday in selected areas in Mindanao
Muslim Filipinos will be joining their brothers and sisters all over the world in celebrating Maulid un-Nabi or the birthday of Prophet Muhammad this 27 September 2023, Wednesday.
The said religious occassion falls on the twelfth day of the third lunar month of Rabi-ul-Awwal according to the Islamic calendar. However, there are conflicting announcements if September 27 is a special non-working holiday or not.
The office of Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has issued Memorandum Circular #15 declaring Maulid un-Nabi as a special working day – reversing its earlier announcement that the said day is a special non-working day. The announcement from BARMM mentioned that in Bangsamoro Autonomy Act #39, the Maulid un-Nabi is only listed as a special working holiday.
For its part, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) has reiterated through its social media platforms that Maulid un-Nabi is one of the five Muslim holidays observed in the Philippines as listed in Article 169 of Presidential Decree 1083 or the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines. It was signed in 1977 by then-President Ferdinand Marcos.
PD 1083 specifically covers the areas listed below. It is worth pointing out that according to Article 172 of PD 1083, all Muslim government officials and employees working anywhere in the Philippines are excused from reporting for work during recognized Islamic Holidays.
Provinces
1) Basilan
2) Lanao del Norte
3) Lanao del Sur
4) Maguindanao
5) North Cotabato
6) Sultan Kudarat
7) Sulu
8) Tawi-Tawi
9) Zamboanga del Norte
10) Zamboanga del Sur
Cities
1) Cotabato City
2) Iligan City
3) Marawi City
4) Pagadian City
5) Zamboanga
The Filipino Scribe will update this post if and when more information becomes available.
Pay Rules For Maulid un-Nabi holiday – September 27, 2023
According to the 2022 Department of Labor and Employment Handbook on Workers’ Statutory Monetary Benefits, employers are not required to give premium pay because work performed on a special working holiday like the this year’s celebration of Maulid un-Nabi is considered similar to working on an ordinary workday.
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