MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte welcomes activities to commemorate of the declaration of Martial Law but these should remain orderly, Malacañang said Wednesday.

"The President encourages various activities to commemorate the occasion as long as they are peaceful and no public inconvenience or destruction of properties may ensue," Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said.

Andanar added that although September 21 is a regular working day, the significance of the event should not be forgotten.

"It will be governance as usual. This, however, does not mean the significance of the day is lost to the collective memory of the nation," he said.

The Philippines marks Wednesday the 44th anniversary of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos’ signing of Proclamation No. 1081, which placed the entire country under military rule.

Duterte earlier gave the green light for the burial of Marcos at the Heroes' Cemetery, a plan which is now being challenged before the Supreme Court.

Survivors of Martial law insist Marcos does not deserve a hero's burial, while the administration says the rules governing the cemetery do not bar the internment there of a former president and former soldier.

Various militant groups across the country are set to mount rallies denouncing the human rights violations during the late strongman's rule.