Honor them by upholding the rule of law – Duterte

NATIONAL HEROES’ DAY

President Duterte yesterday called on the people to honor the Filipino heroes by upholding the rule of law, protecting the nation, and fostering goodwill in his National Heroes’ Day message.

“Their courage, leadership, and wisdom paved the way for

us to enjoy the blessings of freedom, independence, and democracy,” Duterte said.

He urged Filipinos today to harness “the same virtues as we continue to fight against lawlessness, criminality, and poverty that hinder us from achieving our full potential.”

Filipinos should continue to embrace the heroes’ ways in their daily undertakings, he said. “Let us emulate their example as we continue to realize our ideals and aspirations for ourselves and for our country.”

The Philippines has been celebrating National Heroes’ Day as early as 1931 on the last Sunday of August. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed in 2007 Republic Act 9492, which mandated that if a regular or nationwide special holiday falls on a Sunday, it shall be observed the next day.

President Duterte will lead today’s ceremonies at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City this morning.

Holiday pay

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said that employees who will work today, a regular holiday, will get additional pay.

DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Presidential Proclamation No. 50 (series of 2016) provides: “For work done during a regular holiday, the employee shall be paid 200 percent of his/ her regular salary for that day for the first eight hours.” They will also get 30 percent of their hourly rate if they will work overtime today.

If the regular holiday coincides with their day-off, they will also be entitled to another 30 percent of their daily rate for the day of 200 percent.

Employees who will not report for work today will still get 100 percent of their daily rate.

President in Pampanga After attending the Taguig City rites, President Duterte will proceed in the afternoon to Pampanga where he and Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Manny Piñol will join the people of the province in a feast on balut, barbecue, fried duck, and chicken, to help restoring consumer confidence in the wake of the recent avian flu scare.

“Poultry stakeholders said President Duterte’s endorsement by eating balut, barbecue, and fried duck will end the slump in the sales of poultry and poultry products following the bird flu scare,” Piñol said.

Joining Duterte in the “boodle fight” in San Fernando are former President, now Pampanga Rep. Arroyo and local officials.

To be recognized today are the officials and personnel of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), the Department of Health (DOH), the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), and the DA who worked to contain the bird flu outbreak in Central Luzon; and the soldiers and policemen who helped in the culling operations and the manning of the quarantine stations. (With a report from Samuel P. Medenilla)