President Arroyo has signed into a law declaring the feast of Eid’l Adha a national holiday after previously announcing it was only regional holiday in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Republic Act 9849 declared the 10th day of Zhul Hijja, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar, as a national holiday for the observation of Eid’l Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice.

Eid’l Adha is one of Islam’s two major festivals celebrated by 1.6 billion Muslims around the world.

“Eid’l Adha is a tenth day in the month of Hajj or Islamic Pilgrimageto Mecca wherein Muslims pay homage to Abraham's supreme act of sacrifice and signifies mankind's obedience to God,” the law, signed last December 11, 2009, read.

The law stated that if the holiday falls on a Wednesday, the holiday will be observed on the Monday of that week. If the holiday falls on a Sunday, it shall be observed on the Monday that follows.

For movable holidays, the President shall issue a proclamation at least six months prior to the holiday concerned to identify the exact date.

The Office of the Muslim Affairs was designated to promulgate the rules and regulations pursuant to the provisions of RA 9849.

Last year, the President signed Proclamation 1808 that declared November 27 and 28 as special non-working holiday in the country in observance of Eid'l Adha. The proclamation, however, was amended later and scaled down the celebration to the ARMM following comp