MANILA - Since many employees are expected to go on leave this Friday to visit their departed loved ones in the provinces, local businesses pointed out that the government should have declared October 30 a non-working holiday.

According to the Employers Confereration of the Philippines (ECOP), the non-holiday on Friday does not help them at all since most people will not report for work, reducing productivity.

"Dapat nga yung Friday na lang instead of November 27 and 28 (The holiday should've been on Friday instead of November 27 and 28)," ECOP Chairman Atty. Miguel Varela said.

Malacanang has earlier declared November 27 and 28 as national non-working holidays. November 27 is the day of Arafat while November 28 is Eid'l Adha. These are 2 of the most important dates in the Muslim religious calendar.

ECOP is hoping that the government would make both dates a working holiday at least to avoid higher operational costs, particularly from additional holiday pay to employees.

Despite complaints made by local companies, Presidential spokesman for economic affairs Gary Olivar maintained that all declared holidays have "a higher purpose than just the commercial interests and convenience of commuters."

"(November 27 and 28) are 2 of the most important dates in the Muslim religious calendar, and its lessons are relevant to Christians as well," he said. Report from Zen Hernandez, ABS-CBN News