Mt. Pinatubo Memorial Day ok’d in Senate committee

The Senate Committee on Local Governments chaired by Senator Francis Tolentino has approved a Senate version of House Bill No. 5692 declaring June 15 of every year as the “Mt. Pinatubo Memorial Day” and making it a special working holiday for the entire province of Pampanga.

This came after Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri noted that this measure has been frustrated in previous Congresses because there are now too many non-working holidays in the country. The House has revived it once more and it was tackled by the Senate Committee on Local Governments during a hearing this morning, February 18, 2020.

Zubiri proposed that the committee approved it at its level and endorse it to the plenary.

While he understood the concern about too many holidays which impact on employers as well as employees, he said this measure will recognize the courage and heroism of aetas during the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo on June 15, 1991.

The motion was seconded by Senators Imee Marcos and Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa.