Negros Oriental enforces travel curbs amid oil crisis

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The Negros Oriental provincial government has imposed temporary restrictions on official travel and nonessential activities to promote austerity and energy conservation amid the ongoing oil crisis linked to tensions in the Middle East.

Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria on Monday issued Executive Order No. 32, or the “Official Travel Austerity and Energy Conservation Order of 2026,” citing the need for additional measures to reduce fuel consumption, prioritize essential public services, and ensure the prudent use of government resources.

Under the order, all official travel, field visits, delegations, and attendance at ceremonies, conferences, seminars, training sessions, benchmarking activities, meetings, and similar undertakings will be suspended, deferred, or shifted to virtual platforms unless they are strictly necessary for essential governance, emergency response, public health, peace and order, disaster risk reduction, social protection, revenue generation, legally mandated functions, or time-sensitive service delivery.

The order also said no department, office, or unit may schedule or join nonessential group activities, celebrations, assemblies, team-building events, courtesy calls, ceremonial functions, or similar activities requiring transportation, fuel, electricity, venue use, or related spending unless expressly authorized in writing by the Office of the Governor.

The use of government vehicles will likewise be limited to indispensable and urgent official functions.

Trip schedules must be consolidated whenever practicable to avoid multiple or duplicative travel.

Out-of-province travel by provincial government personnel will require prior written approval from the governor or a duly authorized approving authority upon a clear showing that the trip is indispensable and cannot reasonably be postponed or conducted remotely.

In-province travel funded or facilitated by the provincial government will also be subject to strict necessity and reduced to the minimum extent possible.

Offices were encouraged to adopt remote coordination, online meetings, clustered service schedules, and other resource-saving arrangements to maintain service delivery while reducing fuel and energy consumption.

All covered offices and personnel were directed to refrain from unnecessary travel and nonessential activities within or outside the province whenever such travel or activity uses government fuel, vehicles, electricity, public funds, or other resources that may be conserved without disrupting essential public services.

Sagarbarria said the restrictions do not cover activities deemed clearly necessary, including emergency, rescue, health, and disaster response operations, peace and order and public safety functions, urgent social services for affected communities, and frontline work involving revenue, treasury, audit, engineering, infrastructure, agriculture, and health.

The exemptions also cover court appearances, quasi-judicial proceedings, compliance with legal or regulatory deadlines, and other matters that the governor may determine to be indispensable to public service.

Sagarbarria warned that unauthorized travel, nonessential activities, or improper use of government vehicles, fuel, electricity, or related public resources in violation of the order may lead to administrative or other action under applicable laws, civil service rules, auditing rules, and other regulations.

All heads of offices, departments, and units were directed to review scheduled travel, activities, meetings, and events under their respective offices.

The Provincial Administrator, in coordination with the Provincial General Services Office, Provincial Budget Office, Provincial Accountant’s Office, and other concerned offices, will monitor compliance, ensure consistency with applicable Commission on Audit rules, and recommend additional conservation measures as needed.

The provincial government also reiterated its support for renewable energy and energy-conscious governance initiatives.

Negros Oriental began implementing a four-day compressed workweek on March 9 to help cushion the impact of rising fuel prices.

Under the arrangement, employees work 40 hours a week from Monday to Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break.