Four-day workweek in effect in some Lapu-Lapu offices

Local

FEWER trips to the office and longer working hours will mark the new schedule of selected Lapu-Lapu City government employees as the city steps up efforts to conserve fuel and electricity amid rising fuel prices and power supply constraints.

The temporary four-day workweek took effect on October 26 under Executive Order No. 2026-74, which Mayor Ma. Cynthia “Cindi” King-Chan signed on October 20. The city government announced the arrangement on Thursday, November 5.

Under the order, 30 selected offices will operate from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, with a 30-minute lunch break. The adjusted schedule allows covered employees to complete their weekly work within four days instead of reporting from Monday to Friday.

The city government said the arrangement aims to reduce employees' daily travel, cut fuel demand and transportation expenses, and lower energy consumption by consolidating office operations.

However, 18 offices responsible for essential and frontline services will retain their regular 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule from Monday to Friday to ensure uninterrupted public service.

These include the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, Lapu-Lapu City Hospital, Sta. Rosa Community Hospital, City Health Office, City Civil Registrar, City Social Welfare and Development Office, and City Traffic Management System.

The City Environment and Natural Resources Office, Clean and Green Office, Solid Waste Management Office, Materials Recovery Facility Office, and the City Engineering Office's drainage and road maintenance team and streetlighting division are also exempted.

Other offices retaining the five-day schedule are the City Veterinarian's dog impounding and abattoir operations, Market Administrator, Security Marshals, PUJ Terminal Office, and Clearing Team Office.

Among the 30 offices covered by the compressed workweek are the offices of the mayor, vice mayor, city administrator, city attorney, and Sangguniang Panlungsod.

The City Treasurer, City Assessor, City Accountant, City Budget Officer, Business Permit and Licensing Office, Project Development and Monitoring Office, Internal Audit Services Office, and Local Economic Development and Investments Office are also included.

Other covered offices include the Human Resources Management and Development Office, City Planning and Development Office, General Services Office, Public Employment Services Office, Lapu-Lapu City Tourism Office, Manpower and Human Development Training Office, Urban Poor Affairs Office, and Local Cooperative and Livelihood Resource Center.

The arrangement also covers Lapu-Lapu City College, Information Technology Office, Barangay Mayor's Office, City Librarian's Office, Homeowners Associations in Subdivisions and Condominiums Affairs Office, Local Youth Development Office, and City Office of Substance Abuse Prevention.

The City Engineer's Office and Public Information Office are likewise included in the temporary four-day schedule.

The order authorizes heads of covered offices to require specific divisions, units, or personnel to observe regular working hours when necessary, subject to the mayor's approval. This allows the city to maintain office operations when certain functions require personnel to report outside the compressed schedule.

The city advised residents to check the adjusted schedules before conducting transactions with the local government to avoid inconvenience, particularly when dealing with offices that no longer operate on Fridays.

Meanwhile, the Cebu Provincial Government also reinstated its four-day workweek on September 28 to reduce electricity consumption at the Cebu Provincial Capitol.

Under a September 23 memorandum issued by Governor Pamela Baricuatro, most provincial offices were encouraged to adopt a Monday-to-Thursday schedule, with employees reporting from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The arrangement remains in effect until further notice, while offices providing essential services maintain regular operations.

The province initially introduced the compressed workweek on March 9 alongside other energy-saving measures but restored its regular schedule on May 4 before reviving the arrangement in September.(MyTVCebu)