Duterte OKs law declaring Feb. 4 'Philippine-American War Memorial Day'

President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the measure declaring February 4 of every year a special working holiday to be known as the "Philippine-American War Memorial Day."

Duterte signed Republic Act 11304 on April 17.

The law aims to commemorate the "sacrifice" and "bravery" of Filipinos who fought and died as a result of the war against the occupation forces of the United States that began on February 4, 1899.

The Filipinos lost the war with Americans ruling over the country for nearly 50 years. The Philippines gained independence from the US on July 4, 1946.

Under the law, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) are tasked to ensure that appropriate activities will be conducted in schools at all levels to commemorate the event.

It also requires the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) to provide the DepEd, CHED and the public with the information necessary in ensuring a meaningful observance of the holiday.

The agencies concerned are tasked to fund the activities through their annual appropriation. —Virgil Lopez/KBK, GMA News