ILOILO — The Iloilo provincial government will shift to a four-day workweek starting Monday, March 23, as part of sweeping energy and fuel conservation measures ordered by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. in response to rising fuel prices and their economic impact.
The move, anchored on Executive Order No. 034 and aligned with a directive from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., aims to reduce government fuel consumption, electricity use, and operational costs while sustaining essential services.
“Considering the potential continuous increase in fuel prices and its consequential impact on the economy, industries, and the general public, there is a need to strengthen the implementation of energy conservation, efficiency, and austerity measures to mitigate its adverse effects in public resources and the welfare of the people,” Defensor’s executive order stated.
Central to the policy is the adoption of a compressed workweek, with employees working four days at 10 hours per day, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., inclusive of a one-hour lunch break.
Fridays will be designated as a non-working day.
The provincial government said the arrangement will apply based on the nature of work and subject to the assessment of division heads and office or hospital heads.
Several offices and frontline services, however, are exempted from the compressed workweek to ensure uninterrupted operations. These include agricultural facilities, engineering and infrastructure personnel, hospital staff across 13 provincial and district hospitals, disaster risk reduction units, and other critical service offices.
Beyond the workweek adjustment, Defensor also ordered the implementation of strict energy and fuel-saving protocols across all provincial offices and hospitals.
Among the measures are reducing lighting use by 25 percent during office hours and up to 75 percent during lunch breaks, maximizing natural light and ventilation, unplugging unused electrical devices, and limiting the use of centralized air-conditioning from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Water conservation measures were also mandated, including turning off faucets when not in use and reporting leaks promptly.
To cut fuel consumption, the province is encouraging carpooling, limiting official travel to essential functions, and prioritizing the use of public transport where applicable.
Meetings, seminars, and inter-agency engagements are also directed to shift to virtual platforms unless physical presence is necessary.
Defensor further ordered the acceleration of renewable energy initiatives and the implementation of the Government Energy Management Program, including exploring electric vehicle procurement under the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act.
The provincial government said the combined measures are expected to cushion the impact of volatile fuel prices while promoting long-term efficiency and sustainability in government operations./PN