• GILBERT P. BAYORAN / THERESA MAE DULMAN
More local government units and government agencies in Negros Island Region have announced that they are adopting the 4-day compressed workweek, as part of energy conservation measures, amid the heightening of the armed conflict in the Middle East.
The compressed workweek for the local government units of Cadiz, Kabankalan, and highly urbanized Bacolod City, will take effect March 16, with varied working hours from Monday to Thursday. Government workers are required to render duty 40 hours a week.
However, essential frontline offices services have to remain operational to ensure unhampered delivery of basic services.
The provincial government of Negros Oriental, cities of Escalante, Sipalay, and Silay, the municipalities of Ilog and Murcia and in Negros Occidental, started to adopt the 4-day workweek on March 9 and 10, while the provincial government of Negros Occidental will start implementation on March 16, with a schedule of 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday.
The Department of Agrarian Reform in Negros Occidental advised the public to conduct their business and transactions from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Thursday, as they are also observing a 4-day compressed workweek.
Governor Manuel Sagarbarria issued an executive order, reconstituting the Negros Oriental Provincial Price Coordinating Council, to prescribe measures and institute the necessary mechanism to ensure the protection of consumers against undue price increases during emergency and similar situations, as well as assure adequate supply, distribution and marketing of goods.
Malacañang on Monday urged the public to refrain from panic buying, amid the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, assuring them that supplies of fuel and basic commodities remain sufficient.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said government monitoring shows no unusual price movements in essential goods in Metro Manila and other regions.
Castro also advised the public to immediately report any abnormal price increases to the DTI and the Department of Energy.
She noted that fuel prices are expected to increase starting Tuesday due to global developments, but oil firms have committed to implementing the adjustment on a staggered basis.
BACOLOD CITY
The Bacolod City government will transition to a compressed four-day workweek starting March 16, according to Mayor Greg Gasataya.
The move follows national energy conservation mandates under Memorandum Circular No. 114 from the Office of the President, which encourages flexible work arrangements to mitigate rising fuel and utility costs.
Under the new schedule, city offices will operate from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Thursday, to maintain the mandatory 40-hour workweek.
Administrative offices will be closed on Fridays, a day designated for employees to review and assess their weekly work outputs.
Gasataya said that the transition aims to reduce overall city expenditures on electricity and fuel, allowing for the redirection of funds toward essential public programs.
The department heads are required to implement monitoring mechanisms and submit weekly accomplishment reports to the Mayor’s office.
Offices providing essential and frontline services, including the City Health, Disaster Risk Reduction, Social Services, Engineer’s, Environment and Natural Resources, and Public Order and Safety offices, are exempt from the 4-day arrangement.
The city’s dedicated helpdesk for OFWs in the Middle East will also continue its regular daily operations.
The executive order also reinforces strict protocols for government vehicle use and electricity consumption.*
