2018 Philippine holidays, long weekends

You may now start planning your vacation for next year as the official Philippine Holidays for 2018 has been declared by the President.

Malacañang has made public on Wednesday the Presidential Proclamation No. 269 signed July 17, 2017 declaring the regular holidays and special non-working days for the year 2018. Here's the list:

Regular Holidays

• January 1, 2018, Monday – New Year's Day
• March 29, 2018 – Maundy Thursday
• March 30, 2018 – Good Friday
• April 9, 2018, Monday – Araw ng Kagitingan
• May 1, 2018, Tuesday – Labor Day
• June 12, 2018, Tuesday – Independence Day
• August 27, 2018, last Monday of August – National Heroes' Day
• November 30, 2018, Friday – Bonifacio Day
• December 25, 2018, Tuesday – Christmas Day
• December 30, 2018, Sunday – Rizal Day

Special Non-working Days

• February 18, 2018, Friday – Chinese New Year
• February 25, 2018, Sunday – EDSA Revolution Anniversary
• March 31, 2018 – Black Saturday
• August 21, 2018, Tuesday – Ninoy Aquino Day
• November 1, 2018, Thursday – All Saints' Day
• December 31, 2018, Monday – last day of the year

The President has also added the following special non-working holidays:

• November 2, 2018, Friday
• December 24, 2018, Monday

As usual the proclamations for Muslims' holidays Eid'l Fitr and Eid'l Adha will follow after approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined.

So based on the above list, here are the long weekends for 2018:

• February 18,19,20 - Chinese New Year falls on Friday
• March 29,30,31, April 1 - Holy Week
• April 7, 8, 9 - Araw ng Kagitingan falls on Monday
• August 25, 26, 27 - Last Monday of August is National Heroes' Day
• November 1,2,3,4 - Undas Long Weekend
• November 28, 29, 30 - Bonifacio Day falls on Monday
• December 22,23,24,25 - Christmas Long Weekend
• December 29, 30, 31, Jan 1 - Yearend/New Year Long Weekend

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has been directed to promulgate the implementing guidelines regarding the proclamation, especially the pay rules that employers and employees must follow during the holidays.

GUIDELINES: DOH Medical Scholarship Program

Filipino students who aspire to become a doctor may now avail of the of the scholarship offer by the Department of Health to deserving students of eight schools this academic year 2017-2018.

The department has come up with the guidelines for the implementation of DOH Medical Scholarship Program, an initiative aimed at addressing the continuing lack of doctors in the country caused by the high cost of medical education, overseas migration and other factors.

The program was made possible by P317.1 million fund allocation of the Commission on Higher Education, under the Cash Grants to Medical Students Enrolled in State Universities and Colleges (CGMS-SUCs).

The eight SUCs who will share on the fund are as follows:

• University of Northern Philippines
• Mariano Marcos State University
• Cagayan State University
• Bicol University
• West Visayas State University
• University of the Philippines-Leyte
• Mindanao State University
• University of the Philippines-Manila

Scholarship Package

I. Tuition, Laboratory, miscellaneous fees and other school fees (paid directly to partner schools)
II. Allowance of Scholars (paid directly to scholars):

• Living subsidy - P4,500 per month
• Lodging allowance - P3,000 per month
• Transportation allowance - P880 per month
• Book allowance - P12,100 per semester
• Uniform allowance - P3,025 per semester
• Miscellaneous allowance - P5,500 per semester
• Annual medical insurance - P2,400 per year (for medical, paid to PHIC)

Payback Mechanism

For every year of scholarship, the scholar will render two (2) years of service obligation, initially through Doctor to the Barrios (DTTB) Program for the first 3 years.

DTTBs will receive a monthly salary of P64,416 per month, with all the benefits provided in the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers and a masters degree on Masters in Public Management major in Health Systems and Development (MPM-HSD).

Application

Incoming and currently enrolled students (1st year to PGI) in mentioned public medical schools who are interested to apply may accomplish the application form with complete attachment, to be submitted to Schools' scholarship coordinator for consolidation.

Initial Screening: Students shall apply directly to any of eight DOH partner schools and should meet the minimum criteria/requirements. Only those who have been admitted to the partner schools are eligible to apply for the DOH scholarship.
Final Screening: Validation and final evaluation of applicants by the DOH based on set criteria. Successful scholar applicants shall be notified through the Scholarship Department of the partner schools.

Documents to be Accomplished

1. Scholarship Contract
2. Commitment to Render Service (Download here)
3. DOH Scholarship Application Form (Download here)
4. 1x1 ID (within the last 6 months)
5. Attachments:

• Copy of Barangay Certification/Certification of a Bona Fide Resident of the Community
• Copy of Combined Family Income Tax Return (ITR)
• Certificate of Indigency (if applicable)
• Certification from National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) (if applicable)

DOH is urging medical students to avail of this program and serve in the country after graduation, as doctors to the barrios, or in tertiary or district hospitals.

This is a great initiative of the Duterte administration in addressing the lack of doctors especially in far-flung areas where some patients die without ever seeing one.