Holiday in Alajuela on October 12th for the canton's civic festivities

The Executive Branch granted a holiday to public employees of the Central canton of Alajuela for Monday, October 12, 2026, on the occasion of the celebration of the civic festivities of that canton. The measure was formalized through Decree No. 45945-MGP, published in La Gaceta No. 189 on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, within the Decrees section of the Executive Branch. The regulation takes effect on that same day and maintains the exceptions established by special laws.

The decree is issued based on articles 140 paragraphs 3), 20) and 146 of the Political Constitution, as well as articles 25 paragraph 1), 27 paragraph 1), 28 paragraph 2) subparagraph b) and 121 of the General Law of Public Administration, Law No. 6227 of May 2, 1978. It also invokes Law No. 6725 of March 10, 1982, Law No. 7974 of January 4, 2000 —published in La Gaceta No. 18 on January 26, 2000— and the Regulations to Law No. 6725, Executive Decree No. 39427 of September 7, 2015, published in La Gaceta No. 33 on February 17, 2016.

The decision also incorporates article No. 1, Chapter IX of the ordinary session No. 38-2026 of Tuesday, September 22, 2026, of the Municipal Council of the Municipality of the Central canton of Alajuela, province of Alajuela. The decree was signed by President Laura Fernández Delgado and by the acting Minister of Government and Police, Nelson Barquero Pérez, in San José, at ten hours and fifty minutes on September 29, 2026.

Scope of the holiday and exceptions

Article 1 grants the holiday to public employees of the Central canton of Alajuela for October 12, 2026, with the exceptions of special laws. Article 9 establishes that the decree takes effect precisely on that day.

The following are excluded from the application of the regulation:

• Members of the police forces of the Ministry of Public Security.
• The Traffic Police of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.

Powers of institutional heads

The decree transfers to the heads of several institutions the decision to grant or not grant the holiday to their personnel working in the canton, via internal circular:

• Ministry of Public Education: the head will resolve based on article 213 of the Education Code.
• General Directorate of Customs: the head of the Ministry of Finance will decide according to article 14, second paragraph, of the General Customs Law.
• National Insurance Institute: its head will define according to article 6, paragraph c), of Law No. 12 of October 30, 1924, amended by Law No. 8653, the Insurance Market Regulatory Law.

Essential services and health

Article 6 obligates heads of institutions to guarantee that public services considered essential within each institution and which, by their nature, require continuity of service are not affected.

Article 7 exempts emergency services, intensive care, clinical and imaging laboratory tests, surgical interventions, appointments, and care programs for disease prevention of the Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social. Article 8 excludes officials of the Ministerio de Salud who are engaged in sanitary control and inspection activities regarding vector control, popular festivities, and the direct care of children in the CEN-CINAI programs.

The holiday affects both public officials of the Central canton of Alajuela and users of procedures that depend on those offices, who will not be able to be served normally on October 12. The exception for police, traffic, health, and essential services seeks to ensure that the celebration of civic holidays does not interrupt emergency care or sanitary controls during the day.

Source: La Gaceta, No. 189 of October 7, 2026, Executive Branch — Decrees, pp. 2-3 (official reference: D45945 - IN202601131065).