The declaration of three non-working holidays on Oct. 30 and Nov. 1 and 2 will boost local tourism as it will enable Filipinos to enjoy a long weekend, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority director general Arsenio Balisacan said Friday.

In a Palace briefing, Balisacan said the long holidays will yield a positive impact on the Philippine economy, considering that it will propel growth in the tourism sector.

“When the business sector plans, when we plan in government, we have already taken those (holidays) into account. Of course, may mga (there would be) effects,” he said.

“Ngayon (Now that) our economy is fully open, mobility is no longer restricted, and those long holidays should be good for tourism, local tourism. So, it’s okay,” Balisacan added.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. declared Oct. 30 (Monday) as a special non-working day to allow Filipinos to cast their votes in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

The two other dates that were previously declared holiday by Marcos are Nov. 1 (Wednesday) and 2 (Thursday), for the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, respectively.

Balisacan said the extended suspension of work would have a “mixed” impact on Filipino employees, especially if Oct. 31 and Nov. 3 would also be declared holidays.

But he acknowledged that some workers would be affected by the “no work, no pay” policy.

“There are so many of those, especially in the private sector. So, I think we have to take that into account, marami ‘yung talagang gustong magtrabaho dahil kinakailangan nilang magtrabaho (many people really want to work because they need to work) to make both ends meet,” Balisacan said. “I mean the long holiday is not for many of them. it is not what they want. They want work.”

Based on the rules promulgated by the Department of Labor and Employment, special non-working holidays are covered by the “no work, no pay” policy, unless company policy or a collective bargaining agreement says otherwise.

Employees who report to work during special non-working holidays will be paid an additional 30 percent of their daily rate for the first eight hours of work.

Overtime is paid an additional 30 percent of the workers’ hourly rate on that day. (PNA)