MANILA --The dictionary describes briefly the noun holiday “as a day or period of rest from work, or of recreation.”
In observance of such a day, private employers normally do not require their employees to report for work. Those who are required to work on such a day of rest are entitled to extra pay as provided for by labor laws crafted by the government.
The government itself allows its officials and other personnel to enjoy non-working holidays. This is the reason why the Office of the President in Malacañang occasionally issues executive memoranda providing for special non-working holidays nationwide or in specific areas in addition to the 12 national legal holidays.
However, there are exceptions to this policy. Such memos also provide that government employees in offices performing vital tasks must have skeletal forces to work in emergency cases or situations.
This is the reason we see personnel working even on holidays, when most people are enjoying staying in malls, beaches, shrines, movie houses and other places of entertainment and amusement.
Who are these people? They include: print and broadcast media personnel; soldiers; policemen; firemen; weathermen and volcanologists; doctors, nurses and other hospital crew; mall employees; movie house staff; pilots, stewardesses and other personnel of airports and immigration bureau; bus, jeepney, taxicab, tricycle drivers, and personnel of Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT).
Why do they have to report for work on a holiday?
Print and broadcast media personnel -- reporters, photographers, deskmen and editors, radio-television crew, including reporters and cameramen -- need to work on rotation basis seven days a week to inform the people about what is happening around them.
Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have to remain always in their posts, even during holidays, as part of their tasks to keep the country safe from terrorists and criminals who do not observe holidays themselves.
This is true with policemen and firemen who have to respond to emergency situations such as accidents and fire incidents, among other catastrophes.
Weathermen, geologists, seismologists, geophysicists and other employees of the Philippine, Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) have to stay alert on the possible occurrences of adverse weather and natural conditions such as storms, floods, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Doctors, nurses and other hospital staff need to be on duty day and night to attend to people needing health care.
Personnel of shopping malls, hotels, fast food outlets, and movie houses have to attend to shoppers, travelers, diners and theater enthusiasts.
Aircraft pilots and stewardesses are needed round the clock to attend to both incoming and outgoing travelers, along with immigration personnel at airports.
Bus, jeepney, taxicab and tricycle drivers are necessary to cater to travelers who do not have their own vehicles. The same is true with the operators and other personnel of the MRT and LRT in Metro Manila. (PNA)
