May 12 Is a Special Non-Working Holiday for the 2025 Elections

(SPOT.ph) The Malacañang Palace has officially declared May 12 as a special non-working holiday throughout the country for the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.

Proclamation No. 878 was issued “to enable the people to properly exercise their right to vote.” 

This also means a three-day long weekend since May 12 falls on a Monday.

Nearly 69 million registered voters are expected to head to the polls to elect over 18,000 officials: 12 senators, 254 district representatives, 63 party-list representatives, and 17,942 governors, provincial board members, mayors, and councilors. 

The national and local elections will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., while early voting hours for senior citizens, persons with disability, and pregnant voters will be from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. Make sure your registration status shows up as "Active" via COMELEC’s Precinct Finder for you to be able to vote on May 12.

Also read: Check Your Voter Status + More at COMELEC's Precinct Finder

What is a special non-working holiday?

A special non-working day is a type of public holiday where the "no work, no pay" principle applies. This means employees who do not report for work on such days are not entitled to compensation, unless a company policy, collective bargaining agreement, or employment contract provides otherwise.

Employees who do work on a special non-working day are entitled to additional compensation. Specifically, they should receive an extra 30% of their basic daily wage for the first eight hours of work, calculated as daily wage × 130%. For example, if the daily rate is P1,000, the employee is set to receive P1,300 for working on a non-working holiday.

If the special non-working day falls on the employee's rest day (usually on weekends), the pay increases to daily wage x 150%. For overtime work beyond eight hours, an additional 30% of the hourly rate applies.

Also read: How Many Paid Leaves Are Workers Entitled to Under the PH Labor Code?