Capitol adopts four-day work week

Local

CEBU provincial employees will soon work four days a week as the Cebu Provincial Capitol adopts new flexible arrangements to reduce energy consumption amid the global fuel crisis brought by the US-Israel war with Iran.

Gov. Pamela Baricuatro signed Executive Order (EO) No. 16 on Monday, March 9, officially implementing a Monday-to-Thursday schedule for provincial employees, with office hours from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Fridays are now off, giving staff extended rest while maintaining essential public services. Frontline offices, such as hospitals and other critical operations, are exempted to ensure uninterrupted service.

The EO r encourages the province’s 53 cities and municipalities to consider adopting similar arrangements.

Flexible work arrangements may include a compressed four-day workweek with extended hours, designated work-from-home days, staggered schedules, or rotational workforce systems.

All arrangements must comply with Civil Service Commission rules, particularly maintaining the standard 40-hour workweek.

The EO also lays out detailed energy conservation measures.

Provincial offices and LGUs are encouraged to maintain air-conditioning thermostats at 24 degrees Celsius, schedule shutdowns of air-conditioning units for at least two hours during the day, turn off non-essential lights and equipment during lunch breaks and non-operational days, and activate energy-saving modes on office equipment.

Offices are also urged to maximize natural lighting and ventilation and implement other practical energy efficiency initiatives.

Virtual meetings are recommended as the default mode for inter-office coordination, conferences, seminars, and consultations, while official travel should be limited to essential purposes.

Vehicle use is also addressed, with guidelines to consolidate trips, optimize routes, minimize idling, and perform regular maintenance to improve fuel efficiency.

Additional measures include minimizing elevator use and promoting responsible energy use among personnel.

In a previous interview, Baricuatro said the initiative is also intended to support employees’ well-being while helping the province reduce energy consumption.

The order also emphasizes that all adopted measures must ensure the continuous and uninterrupted delivery of government services, particularly frontline functions such as health, public safety, and disaster response.

Component cities and municipalities are encouraged to pursue a 10 to 20 percent reduction in electricity consumption through these energy-saving protocols.

The decision comes amid discussions on rising global oil prices due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

Last Friday, Vice Gov. Glenn Soco warned against a hasty implementation of a four-day workweek solely as a reaction to the crisis, citing potential disruptions in retail, healthcare, and other critical sectors.

He suggested alternative energy-saving measures such as daylight-saving adjustments, shared fuel allocations, and long-term solutions like electric vehicles.

At the national level, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently ordered a temporary four-day workweek in selected executive offices starting March 9, alongside measures to reduce electricity and fuel consumption by 10 to 20 percent.

Agencies providing essential services—including health, police, and emergency response—will continue regular operations, while offices are encouraged to suspend non-critical activities and conduct work online whenever possible.(MyTVCebu)