By CESAR JOLITO III
Rising fuel prices forced the Negros Occidental provincial and Bacolod City governments to implement separate power and fuel conservation measures, including a compressed four-day work week, as part of the national government’s contingency measures to address the impact of the ongoing Middle East crisis on the country.
In his Executive Order No. 26-05 released on Saturday, March 7, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson ordered all provincial government offices and departments to adopt the compressed work schedule starting March 16, as mandated by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
Under the order, provincial offices will operate from Tuesday to Friday with working hours from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., ensuring that employees still complete the required 40-hour work week.
Essential and frontline services will remain fully operational, including provincial hospitals, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the Economic Enterprise Development Department.
These offices may adopt shifting schedules with 10-hour workdays to ensure continuous public service.
The executive order also directs provincial offices to implement energy-saving practices such as maximizing digital platforms and virtual meetings, limiting official travel to essential functions, shutting down unused electrical equipment, and ensuring the efficient use of electricity.
“The province recognizes the need to adopt appropriate operational measures that align with national energy conservation protocols while maintaining the efficient delivery of public services,” Lacson said in an executive order.
This will remain in force until revoked or modified by Marcos.
Bacolod City
Meanwhile, the Bacolod City government has also implemented power and fuel conservation measures through Executive Order No. 11 issued by Mayor Greg Gasataya.
The order limits air-conditioning use in city offices to six hours daily, extendable to a maximum of eight hours at the discretion of agency heads.
Thermostats must be set at no lower than 24 degrees Celsius, while air-conditioning units should shift to fan mode from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.
City employees are also required to turn off lights, computers and other equipment during lunch breaks and after office hours.
The city government also plans to upgrade facilities with inverter air-conditioning units and light-emitting diode (LED) lighting systems to further cut electricity costs.
Offices are encouraged to purchase appliances certified under the Philippine Energy Labeling Program of the Department of Energy.
Employees and job order personnel are encouraged to use the stairs for trips one floor up or down, although pregnant women, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, individuals with underlying medical conditions, and those carrying heavy loads are exempted from elevator restrictions.
Gasataya also instructed building officials to submit proposals for redesigning and retrofitting government buildings, including the installation of solar photovoltaic systems and other renewable energy technologies.
For government vehicle operations, proper trip scheduling will be enforced to eliminate unnecessary trips, while engine idling and vehicle overloading are strictly prohibited.
The city government aims to reduce electricity and fuel consumption by at least 10 percent, with all departments required to submit monthly reports detailing fuel usage.
Gasataya is also set to meet with department and office heads to discuss the possible implementation of a four-day workweek in the city government.
Other LGUs
The local government units of Silay, Murcia and Ilog will also implement a compressed four-day work week beginning Monday, March 9.
Under the new schedule, city government offices will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Thursday.
The adjustment ensures that government employees will still complete the required 40 working hours per week.
The city will also implement energy conservation protocols, including maintaining air-conditioning units and turning off unnecessary lights and electrical equipment during lunchtime or after office hours./CJ, WDJ