Friday off: Iloilo LGUs, universities switch to compressed workweek

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Several local government units and schools in Iloilo will implement a temporary four-day workweek starting Monday, March 9, following a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. aimed at reducing energy consumption amid rising fuel prices driven by conflicts in the Middle East.

On Friday, March 6, Marcos issued Memorandum Circular No. 114, which orders the implementation of a four-day workweek in select executive branch government offices.

The directive aims to reduce the energy footprint of government operations by cutting building electricity use and transport fuel consumption.

In Iloilo province, at least three towns have formally announced the adoption of a four-day compressed workweek: Oton, Dueñas, and New Lucena.

In Oton, the local government said it will implement the compressed schedule from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Thursday.

The local governments of Dueñas and New Lucena will also shift to a four-day workweek beginning Monday, with office hours set from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and offices closing on Fridays.

In Iloilo City, Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu said in her latest statement on Thursday that she is studying whether the four-day workweek can be implemented at City Hall.

She added that the measure would likely require extending the regular eight-hour workday by two hours to ensure public services remain uninterrupted.

“Whatever the guidelines of the President are, City Hall will follow,” Treñas said.

The city has already begun implementing energy-saving measures, including replacing streetlights with LED fixtures, installing solar-powered lights at the Esplanade, monitoring electricity use in public schools, and regulating air conditioning in government offices.

Several state universities in the province are also adjusting their work and class arrangements.

At West Visayas State University, classes will be conducted onsite from Monday to Thursday, while Friday sessions will shift to technology-mediated instruction.

Administrative personnel will work onsite during the first four days of the week and transition to work-from-home arrangements on Fridays, except for employees assigned to the university medical center and other essential services.

Iloilo Science and Technology University announced that office personnel will report onsite from Monday to Thursday, with work-from-home arrangements observed on Fridays.

Classes at ISAT U will proceed as usual early in the week, while Friday and Saturday sessions will be conducted online.

Among government agencies, the Department of Tourism Region 6 also announced that it will adopt the compressed schedule, serving clients from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Thursday, and closing on Fridays.

The memorandum circular allows compressed onsite workweeks or one day of remote work per week.

The policy targets nonessential offices and explicitly excludes frontline services such as police, fire departments, hospitals, and other critical public operations that must maintain full onsite presence.

The memo also mandates agencies to cut electricity and fuel use by 10 to 20 percent and suspend nonessential official travel.

The policy will remain in effect until explicitly revoked by the president.

The memorandum applies solely to executive branch offices under the Office of the President, covering national agencies such as the Department of Budget and Management and select attached bureaus, but not the private sector, Congress, or the judiciary.

On March 3, Malacañang indicated openness to expanding the scheme following proposals from lawmakers and business groups, amid gasoline prices hitting PHP 65 to PHP 70 per liter.