Manila 6th District Rep. Benny Abante Jr. on Wednesday extended his gratitude to House colleagues and fellow legislators in the Senate for the passage of Republic Act 11897 or the National Baptist Day Act, a law that declares the second Thursday of January each year a special working holiday in observance of National Baptist Day.
As the principal author of the said law in the House and the host pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Baptist Church and Ministries, Abante said he “is grateful for the support given by fellow lawmakers here in the House and those in the Senate, who in the 18th Congress voted to pass this measure.”
Section 2 of the law says that it is the declared policy of the State “to recognize Baptists for the continuous pursuit of their evangelical mission to contribute to nation-building by establishing Christian schools that instill academic excellence and build character in individuals, and churches that proclaim, teach and share biblical principles for the betterment of society.”
“On behalf of my fellow pastors and the more the 25,000 Baptist churches around the Philippines, maraming salamat po. We will always be grateful for and we will always remember your support.”
The National Baptist Day Act lapsed into law on July 23, 2022.
Section 2 of the law says that it is the declared policy of the State “to recognize Baptists for the continuous pursuit of their evangelical mission to contribute to nation-building by establishing Christian schools that instill academic excellence and build character in individuals, and churches that proclaim, teach and share biblical principles for the betterment of society.”
RA 11897 further states that “to recognize the important contribution of the Baptists in nation-building, the State shall promote the observance of the second Thursday of every year as ‘National Baptist Day’ and proclaim the same as a special working holiday.”
Abante also thanked the law’s principal author in the Senate, Sen. Win Gatchalian.
“Napakahalaga po na makahanap ng kaibigan, kasama, at katrabaho sa Senado, at malinaw po na si Sen. Win ay lahat na ito,” said the legislator.
“We look forward to working with him and all our new colleagues in the 19th Congress, especially as we tackle the urgent legislative proposals announced by the President in his State of the Nation Address.”
