A bill seeking to declare Chinese New Year as a special non-working holiday will soon be deliberated after it passed scrutiny by the House committee on revisions of laws.

Isabela Rep. Giordidi Aggabao, chairman of the committee, sponsored the bill on the floor and said its passage would further strengthen relations between Filipinos and Chinese as well as the ethnic Chinese community in the country. The bill was principally authored by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez.

“The bill is in recognition of the great contributions of the Chinese and Chinese-Filipinos in Philippine society and of their rich cultural traditions,” Rodriguez told an interview.

Rodriguez said Chinese-Filipinos have put up businesses, provided employment, created more income for the government and tremendously contributed to Philippine economy.

“Considering our long relations with the Chinese, many of whom have adopted the Philippines as their home, it is but just to help preserve some of their valued traditions,” he said.

The bill seeks to preserve the Chinese tradition of celebrating their New Year by declaring it as a non-working public holiday.

Once passed into law, Chinese New Year will be added to the existing 11 regular holidays, the three nationwide special holidays and five special non-working days as provided for under Republic Act No. 9492 and Proclamation 1699.

The regular holidays, under RA 9492, are New Year’s Day – January 1; Maundy Thursday, Good Friday – movable dates; Eid’l Fitr – movable date; Araw ng Kagitingan – Monday nearest April 9 (Bataan and Corregidor Day); Labor Day – Monday nearest May 1; Independence Day – Monday nearest June 12; National Heroes Day – Last Monday of August; Bonifacio Day – Monday nearest November 30; Christmas Day – December 25; Rizal Day – Monday nearest December 30.

The nationwide special holidays are Ninoy Aquino Day – Monday nearest August 21, All Saints Day – November 1 and last day of the year – December 31.