ILOILO City – Voters and other clients of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will have to schedule their in-person transactions from Tuesdays to Fridays beginning November 9, 2026, as the poll body suspends face-to-face services every Monday nationwide for nearly five months under a government energy-conservation initiative.
The arrangement, which will remain in effect until March 29, 2027, covers all Comelec offices, including provincial, city and municipal election offices across the country.
Comelec-Iloilo City announced the policy through its official Facebook page, citing Commission En Banc Minute Resolution No. 26-0881 dated October 7, 2026.
“Pursuant to Commission En Banc Minute Resolution No. 26-0881 dated October 7, 2026, starting November 9, 2026 until March 29, 2027, all Comelec Offices nationwide shall adopt the home or remote work arrangement to support the government energy-saving measures,” the announcement stated.
Under the directive, Comelec personnel will work remotely every Monday during their regular eight-hour work schedule, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., instead of physically reporting to their respective offices.
Regular face-to-face transactions will resume every Tuesday and continue through Friday.
The temporary work arrangement is part of the government’s energy-saving measures amid concerns over the developing El Niño phenomenon, which is forecast to intensify into a possible Super El Niño toward the latter part of 2026, with its strongest effects expected during the first quarter of 2027.
The measure is intended to reduce energy consumption in government offices while maintaining administrative operations through remote work.
However, the shift will temporarily affect certain election-related services that require the physical presence of Comelec personnel and applicants.
In particular, the processing and issuance of voter certifications and onsite overseas voter registration will not be available every Monday throughout the implementation period.
These services will instead be accommodated during the regular onsite working days from Tuesday to Friday.
The arrangement means that individuals seeking voter certifications for employment, identification, documentary or other official purposes must adjust their schedules accordingly.
Likewise, qualified overseas voters who need to personally transact with Comelec offices are advised to avoid Mondays to prevent unnecessary trips.
Comelec urged the public to plan their visits ahead of time and regularly monitor its official social media channels for announcements, advisories and possible changes in service schedules.
The commission emphasized that the remote-work arrangement will apply uniformly to its offices nationwide, making advance planning essential for voters and other stakeholders requiring in-person assistance.
The Monday work-from-home policy will run through March 29, 2027, unless modified by a subsequent directive from the commission./PN
