Negros Oriental returns to regular work hours

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The provincial government of Negros Oriental shifted back to regular working hours on Monday, June 8, after almost three months under a four-day compressed workweek due to the fuel crisis caused by tensions in the Middle East.

In Executive Order No. 38, Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria ordered the lifting of the flexible work arrangement in the province and directed all departments and offices of the provincial government to revert to the standard regular work schedule.

All officials and employees shall report for work from Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., to ensure that public services are fully available throughout regular government operating hours, Sagarbarria stated in the executive order.

Offices involved in the delivery of essential health services, disaster response, and other critical frontline operations that require uninterrupted services are exempted and shall continue to observe their respective rotational shifting schedules.

Sagarbarria said the move aims to maximize operational efficiency, foster seamless interoffice coordination, and ensure the optimal delivery of frontline services to the public.

The provincial government implemented the compressed workweek scheme on March 9 under Executive Order No. 28 to support energy conservation measures pursuant to Office of the President Memorandum Circular No. 114 while ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of essential public services.

The compressed workweek allowed government offices to adopt an alternative work schedule while maintaining the required number of working hours and continuity of public service.

The conditions and circumstances that necessitated the adoption of the alternative work arrangement have since been mitigated, warranting the return to the regular workweek, the governor said.