Bacolod, Negros Oriental adopt four-day workweek

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The city government here will start implementing a four-day workweek on March 16 to promote energy conservation amid the global oil crisis.

Mayor Greg Gasataya signed an executive order Tuesday enforcing a flexi-work arrangement in the city in compliance with a memorandum issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Under the new policy, the compressed work schedule will run from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and will comply with the mandatory 40-hour workweek.

The order also reiterated directives under Executive Order No. 11, issued Feb. 13, promoting energy efficiency through technological upgrades and fuel conservation measures.

“By doing this, we can help the employees in Bacolod City and conserve fuel, electricity, and other resources,” Gasataya said.

To ensure sustained productivity, department heads will conduct weekly monitoring of employee performance.

The mayor said employees under the flexi-work scheme will use Fridays to assess and review their weekly work output.

Agencies providing essential public services, however, are exempt from the 10-hour flexi-work arrangement.

Meanwhile, the provincial government of Negros Oriental began implementing a four-day compressed workweek on Monday, March 9, to help cushion the impact of rising fuel prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East.

Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria signed an executive order Monday adopting the flexible work arrangement in the provincial government as a temporary energy-saving measure in support of the national government’s call for stronger energy conservation efforts.

Under the order, provincial government employees must render 40 hours of work a week and report from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, including a one-hour lunch break.

Heads of offices, their next-in-rank officials and focal persons must remain on call at all times to address urgent service requirements.

Sagarbarria said the move is intended to reduce electricity consumption through the disciplined use of air conditioning, the rational use of lighting, and the shutting down of lights, computers and other equipment when not in use.

He said the order also seeks to reduce operational costs in government offices.

He also said vehicle use would be rationalized through trip consolidation and route planning, consistent with existing rules.

The four-day workweek will not apply to frontline offices and essential services to ensure uninterrupted public service.

In a video message posted on social media, Sagarbarria said the matter had been thoroughly discussed with employees.

He added that the move would allow employees to spend more time with their families and plan activities together.

Sagarbarria said the arrangement would also help employees save on expenses, especially those traveling from distant areas, as public transportation fares may also increase.

“We don’t know what will happen because of the war and the major effects or backlash it could cause,” he added.

The governor cited a similar situation during the COVID-19 pandemic, when government offices also operated on limited schedules to help prevent the spread of the virus.

“This is something of an experiment that has to be done, but this will pass,” he said.

He added that they would wait for further direction from President Marcos once oil prices in the country have stabilized.

“When everything returns to normal, we will go back to how it was before,” he said.

President Marcos earlier ordered the temporary implementation of a four-day workweek in some executive branch offices starting March 9 as part of the government’s energy conservation measures amid rising fuel costs.