May Pasok: December 22 Is Not a "Special Half-Working Day"
The PCO has called it out.
(SPOT.ph) Nope, it's a full day of work tomorrow, December 22. A proclamation is making the rounds online that Friday is a Special (Half-Working) Day in the Philippines—confirmed to be fake news by the Presidential Communications Office.
Also read: Hello, Long Weekends: Here Are the 2024 Holidays in the Philippines
Fake News: Special (Half-Working) Day in the Philippines on December 22
Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil dismissed the circular as being fake, several news outlets reported. The document, masking itself as Proclamation No. 427, declared a half-working day across the country, with special emphasis on the expected traffic before the long weekend. "An additional special (half-working) day will give the people the full opportunity to travel earlier to their respective residences and provinces in preparation to celebrate the holiday with their families and loved ones."
The document even called on the Department of Labor and Employment to issue a circular that implements the half-holiday for the private sector.
What the PCO has to say about the December 22 news
The Presidential Communications Office called out the fake news on their Facebook page. "Ang nasabing dokumento ay huwad at walang opisyal na beripikasyon ng pamahalaan. Pinaaalalahanan ang publiko na maging mapanuri at sumangguni lamang sa official government sources para sa tamang impormasyon," they said.
A quick look at the Official Gazette website shows that the real Proclamation No. 427 is entitled DECLARING NINE (9) INDIVIDUALS AS MANLILIKHA NG BAYAN FOR 2023. It would appear that an individual from the Communications arm of the administration had posted the document to their Facebook page, and has now taken it down, too.