With almost 20 public holidays on record, the Philippines along with Colombia, rank 3^rd in the top ten countries in the world with the most number of public holidays.  Yet, this number still excludes the special non-working days, additionally announced by Philippine presidential proclamation.

The most recent addition to the Philippines’ list of special non-working days relates to the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit (ASEAN).Being a high-profile event, a recent proclamation was released declaring 13 to 15 November 2017, as three consecutive special non-working days for both private and public offices in the National Capitol Region, Bulacan and Pampanga, to pave the way for the ASEAN conference. These areas will be directly affected by the said activities. While the summit would end on November 14, classes in all educational levels on 16 to 17 November have also been suspended since thousands of delegates are expected to tour Metro Manila after the summit.

Here is a brief overview of the expected impact to the following sectors:

Government Agencies/Offices:

The 31st ASEAN Summitis the second international conference of heads of government to be hosted by the Philippines under the Duterte administration.  It will be simultaneously held in Manila and Clark Air Base in Pampanga. Hosting this event will allow the government to highlight Philippine interests in the region.  ASEAN integration will allow the Philippines to achieve their goals related to export of products and services, trade, and tourism by working together with Asian nations, rather than individually.

Private Employers:

The spontaneous announcement of special non working holidays will certainly affect private employers, who may not have included the disruption of their goods and services due to the holidays into their forecasts, budgets and general agenda.  For the regular, full time employees, they are still entitled to receive 100% of their pay.Employees who work on special non-working days are paid at least 130% of the sum of their daily rate and cost of living allowance. There are also delays on services or supplies that companies rely on government agencies to provide that impact their ability to complete tasks.  There are also adverse effects on the country’s economy as large transactions tend to get held up, especially those related to the banking and the financial sector. The finances will need to wait for longer periods to be cleared off and therefore get pended.

General Public:

Holidays are generally beneficial to the well-being of employees and students. It will give them the chance to relax, spend time with family and/or travel.  However, laborers who are employed under a no work-no pay scheme will not be able to recover their wage from the unworked  holiday and they may not have the funds to afford them the opportunity to travel on the long holidays.   Generally, in the metropolitan business districts,  the roads are less congested and  the shopping malls, grocery stores and areas of entertainment remain open for regular business.

Destination and Immigration Service Providers:

Advance scheduling is key in this industry and special non-working days would lead to various delays in a home search program, school support or even payments for housing and temporary accommodations. The delays would be incurred in their daily operations between global management companies and the assignees. The processing of visas, permits, licenses, approvals; authorizations are placed on hold, customs release of shipments is postponed, all unavoidably creating a significant backlog. Such a disruption in services will most inevitably be felt in the next few weeks.
In conclusion, the unforeseen non-working days in the Philippines has it’s positive and negative effects.  While everyone enjoys time off from the hustle and bustle of daily life,  we must take into account that not all can afford  unexpected  business closures.

Upcoming  Non-Working Holidays:

01 November, Wednesday – Special Non-Working Day, All Saint’s Day

13 to 15 November, Monday to Wednesday – Additional Special Non-Working Days,   ** 31^stAsean Summit ***

References:

https://www.gov.ph/events-and-holidays

https://www.pinoymoneytalk.com/2017-holidays-philippines-official-list/

Headlines, Oct 24, 2017. The Philippine Star.com

Headlines, Oct 23, 2017, CNN Philippines.com

Headlines, Oct 23, 2017, Sunstar.com

http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2017/10oct/20171023-PROC-332-RRD.pdfhttps://amti.csis.org/reassessing-asean-summit-utility/

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-05/01/c_136248461.htm

Doing business in the Philippines relies heavily on personal relationships.  Ideally, introductions should be arranged through a third party.  One must allot a significant amount of time for socializing to build rapport and familiarity.

Basic tips:

• Arrange appointments in advance, but telephone shortly before to reconfirm. Regular office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. English is the main business language.
• It is acceptable to be up to 15 minutes late for meetings but it is best to be punctual even when others are not.
• Normal business attire for men is a formal suit and tie, or the local-style long-sleeved shirt. For women, a modest suit or dress may be brightly colored.
• Address people by their professional title if they have one (e.g. Dr., Architect or Attorney); or by Mr., Mrs. or Ms. preceding their surname. First name terms, or the nicknames often used by Filipinos will follow soon after, especially if they are at ease with you.
• Normal greetings include a handshake with a smile. Refrain from intense eye contact as this is considered rude and confrontational.
• Business cards are exchanged following initial greetings, and should be inspected subtly. Unlike in other Asian countries, the exchange of business cards is not overly formalized. Yet, it is still of importance. Present and receive business cards with both hands. Your title and position should be reflected on the card as this indicates the influence and status you may have.
• Initial meetings are mainly to get to know one another. Formal negotiations rarely occur during the first meeting. Some small talk is expected. Be prepared to be asked about a lot of (harmless) personal questions about your marital status or even about business endeavors. You may, of course, politely side-step these questions.
• Communication styles are courteous, reserved and most often indirect. Filipinos will try to avoid a direct refusal or confrontation as this may cause someone to “lose face”, which is unacceptable. To raise your voice, show impatience, or to interrupt your business partner is considered terribly disrespectful.
• Business culture is hierarchical with decisions being made at the top of the organization but based on prior consensus from others. Decision-makers may not be present at meetings but will be briefed afterwards. Negotiations are often held outside the office, in social venues or on the golf course. Be prepared for a lengthy decision-making process.