Duterte declares Feb. 4 as PH-US War Memorial Day

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech during the 72nd Philippine Air Force Anniversary at the Col. Jesus Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on July 2, 2019. VALERIE ESCALERA/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law an act declaring February 4 of every year as a special working holiday known as “Philippine-American War Memorial Day.”

Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11304 on April 17, 2019 but a copy of the document was given to reporters on Tuesday.

The special working holiday will be held “in commemoration of the sacrifice and bravery of the men and women who fought and died in defense of the Filipino nation during the Philippine-American war.”

The Philippine-American war, which broke out on the evening of February 4, 1899 at Manila’s San Juan del Monte bridge left 2,000 Filipinos either dead or wounded.

Under the law, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) must ensure that appropriate activities are held in schools at all levels to commemorate the Philippine-American War Memorial Day.

Meanwhile, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) shall be responsible for providing the DepEd, CHED, and the general public with the necessary information to ensure a meaningful commemoration of the Philippine-American War Memorial Day.

Within 90 days from the approval of this act, the NHCP, in consultation with the DepEd and the CHED, formulate the rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this act.

The act will take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.