House wants March 10 declared as Nat’l Junior Chamber Int’l PH Day
THE House of Representatives approved Wednesday night a bill proposing to declare March 10 of every year as a special working holiday in the entire country to be known as National Junior Chamber International (JCI) Philippines Day, in recognition of their vital contributions to leadership development and community service in the country.
With an overwhelming 271 votes, the chamber approved on final reading House Bill (HB) No. 7587 whose principal authors are House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe of Zamboanga City’s 2nd District, Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, and TINGOG Reps. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez and Jude A. Acidre, who was National President of the organization in 2021. JCI Philippines is a national organization of JCI, a global non-profit organization created for enterprising individuals ages 18-40 with over 500,000 members in more than 100 countries.
“This proposed legislation aims to commemorate the annual anniversary of Junior Chamber International (JCI) Philippines and recognize its long history of providing leadership development opportunities, humanitarian work and youth engagement to uplift the conditions of Filipino people,” Speaker Romualdez, head of the 312-strong House of Representatives, said.
“The declaration of March 10 of every year as the National JCI Philippines Day is consistent with the constitutional mandate under Section 23, Article II, of the 1987 Constitution, which provides that ‘The State shall encourage non-governmental, community-based, or sectoral organizations that promote the welfare of the nation’,” Acidre for his party said.
Once enacted into law, JCI Philippines may coordinate with the different national government agencies, local government units and private sectors for its program and activities to ensure that the significance of the National JCI Philippines Day is instilled in all Filipino youth and future leaders.
On March 10, 1948, the JCI, during its 3rd World Congress held in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, granted the charter to JCI Philippines, then Philippines Jaycees, and admitted the first national organization in Asia to the growing global network of young leaders, says the bill’s explanatory note.
“Throughout its seventy-five years of existence in the Philippines, JCI Philippines has committed to develop its members and equip them with the necessary skills to create positive change and provide them with the unique opportunity to share their voice and engage with the community to address community challenges and create sustainable impact,” Romualdez said.
