President Rodrigo Duterte declared a special non-working holiday on May 9, 2022, in preparation for the upcoming national and local elections.

Duterte said in Proclamation 1357 dated May 5,2022 “Therefore, I, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, President of the Philippines, by the virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare Monday, 09 May 2022, a special (non-working) holiday throughout the country for the National and Local elections.”

The outgoing president emphasized the need for the electorate to exercise their right to suffrage.

“There is a need to declare Monday, 09 May 2022, a special (non-working) holiday to enable the people to properly exercise their right to vote, subject to the public health measures of the national government,” he noted.