ANGARA FILES BILL TO MAKE CHINESE NEW YEAR
A SPECIAL NON-WORKING HOLIDAY IN PH

Sen. Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara has filed a bill that seeks to declare the celebration of Chinese New Year as a special non-working holiday in recognition of the great contributions of the Chinese-Filipino community to the country and in respect to the their long-held traditions.

Currently, Jan. 31 is declared as a special non-working day through Proclamation No. 655 signed by President Aquino as a "manifestation of our solidarity with our Chinese-Filipino brethren who have been part of our lives in many respects as a country and as a people."

Angara wants to make this a law so that Chinese New Year would be declared a holiday in the whole country every year.

"The Chinese-Filipino community is invariably a vital component to Philippine history, culture and economic development, as shown in their varied contributions to society--from trade and commerce to civic organizations and community-building initiatives," the lawmaker said.

"By underscoring how Chinese-Filipinos have played, and continue to play, a vital role in Filipino history and nation-building, this measure also fulfills the mandate of the state 'to foster the preservation, enrichment and dynamic evolution of a Filipino national culture based on the principle of unity in diversity' as enshrined in our Constitution," he added.

Angara's Senate Bill No. 1908 mandates the Department of Labor and Employment in consultation with the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. to promulgate the rules and regulations to implement the Act.