WHEREAS, the Commission on Elections will conduct the ARMM elections on Monday, August 11, 2008;

WHEREAS, in order to give the people of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao ample time to exercise their right to vote, there is a need to declare August 8 & 11, 2008 as special (non-working) holidays;

WHEREAS, Cotabato City and Isabela City, although not part of the ARMM, will be used as counting, consolidation and transmission sites for the ARMM Elections.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, EDUARDO R. ERMITA, Executive Secretary, by authority of Her Excellency, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, do hereby declare Friday & Monday, August 8 & 11, 2008, respectively, as special (non-working) days in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), including Cotabato City and Isabela City.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

Done in the City of Manila, this 7th day of August, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Eight.


By the Executive Secretary:

(Sgd.) JOAQUIN C. LAGONERA
Senior Deputy Executive Secretary