After dilly-dallying for some time, Malacanang has finally declared March 17 a Special Non-Working Holiday in Davao City in time for the culmination of the city’s 88th founding anniversary month-long celebration.
The request, which was signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, was approved on March 11, the day former president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested and flown to The Hague, Netherlands.
The declaration even wished for the Dabawenyos to enjoy the celebration.
“It is proper that the City of Davao be given full opportunity to participate in the occasion and enjoy the celebration,” it said.
On January 28, 2025, the 20th Davao City Council submitted a resolution requesting the Office of the President to declare March 17, 2025, as a Special Non-working Holiday in Davao City in celebration of the Pasasalamat sa 88th Araw ng Davao. The City Council also included the request for August 15, 2025, for the Indigenous People’s Day in relation to the Kadayawan sa Davao Celebration.
According to the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the resolution was transmitted to the Office of the President via courier on February 5 and was delivered on February 6.
“The City has ensured to request in advance since the Office of the President has mandated all LGUs to make requests for issuance of Presidential Proclamations declaring special non-working holidays 30 days before the special day in their Memorandum Order No. 20,” said Jennifer Romero, City Tourism Operations Office Officer-in-Charge.
However, the declaration received backlash from the Dabawenyos.
“Mupusta ko, since na arrest na nila si PRRD himuon na nilang holiday ang March 17 para malipay ang mga taga Davao. Abi cguro nila baba tag kalipay. Take your holiday and give us back our Tatay!” posted Councilor Luna Maria Dominique S. Acosta.
Councilor Temujin “Tek” Ocampo also posted “Unya, malipay mi ani? Unsa ni consuelo kay inyong gipadakop ug gipapriso among gimahal nga Tatay Digong? Nganong wala ka Ataya?”
Followers of Edge Davao also slammed the declaration.
Adrian Nobleza commented, “WE DON’T NEED THAT CELEBRATION ANYMORE JUST BRING THE OLD MAN BACK HERE IN DAVAO SAFELY.”
Melin Virtudazo Remoreras was emotional “If pwede palang e trade we’d rather not have HOLIDAY mauli lang si Tatay Digong diri sa Davao City, there’s no point of celebrating Araw ng Dabaw when all of us Davaoeños are heartbroken.”
Al-Cibar Ismael urged the Dabawenyos to go out on the streets on March 17 to show support for the former president.
“Gamiton unta NATO na mga Taga Davao ang kanang adlawa para ipakita ang atong pagmamahal ug pasasalamat Kay FPRRD, sa march 17, mugawas tanan Taga Davao bisan sa kalsada lng isiyagit ang Duterte. Unsaon pag RESPITO sa Taga Malacañang sa Atoa kung dili nila makit an ang pagkakaisa Ng Taga Davao.”.
