July 6 to be declared national holiday

Malacañang is expected to declare Wednesday, July 6, as a national holiday in observance of the end of Ramadhan or Eid al-Fitr.

"Well, napag-usapan namin iyan ni Executive Secretary (Salvador) Medialdea at ito po ay sa July 6. Pero hintayin na lang po natin 'yung opisyal na announcement ngayong darating na Lunes or Martes po," Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Martin Andanar said in an interview on state-run Radyo ng Bayan.

Republic Act No. 9177, signed into law by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, declared Eid al-Fitr as a regular holiday throughout the country.

Eid al-Fitr is celebrated by the Muslim world for three days after the end of the month of fasting. It is the first day marking the end of the 30-day fasting period of Ramadhan.

In accordance to R.A 9177, only the Office of the President can announce the final date for this religious holiday, upon the recommendation of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF).

According to a month-long schedule released by the NCMF, the Holy Month of Ramadhan ends on July 5, Tuesday. —ALG, GMA News