Bacolod City and at least three other local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental have reverted to the five-day workweek starting yesterday.
Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya announced the development, saying that economic conditions have improved with the stabilization of fuel prices and transportation costs.
Under Executive Order (EO) 26, Gasataya directed all department heads to ensure a smooth transition from the four-day workweek back to the regular five-day schedule, while maintaining uninterrupted public services.
“Based on our assessment, we can now return to the regular work schedule as fuel prices continue to improve,” the mayor said in an interview.
He added that returning to the regular workweek would improve public service efficiency and ensure better coordination of government responses.
Gasataya said he discussed the plan with Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesus Victor Remulla during the latter’s visit here on May 9.
“We will continue to implement low-cost energy efficiency and conservation measures. This is still aligned with the city’s austerity measures, particularly on energy conservation,” he said.
On March 16, the city government adopted the four-day workweek, from Monday to Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The compressed schedule adheres to the mandatory 40 working hours per week, in compliance with Memorandum Circular 114 issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., directing all government agencies to adopt energy conservation measures.
By April 6, Gasataya required city government employees to report onsite Monday to Thursday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and observe work-from-home arrangement every Friday.
The neighboring cities of Bago and Silay also resumed the five-day workweek.
In EO 27, Bago City Mayor Marina Javellana-Yao lifted the implementation of the compressed four-day workweek, but emphasized that strict energy conservation protocols in all office operations shall be maintained.
Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego also announced the resumption of the five-day workweek on his Facebook page.
From Monday to Friday, regular office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
“All city government offices shall be open to serve the public during these hours. The public is advised to plan visits and transactions accordingly,” Gallego said.
In Toboso town, Mayor Richard Jaojoco said the municipal government is also reverting to the five-day workweek.
“Compressed workweek creates operational bottlenecks, slowing service and progress of our municipality,” he said in a Facebook post. (PNA)