THE provincial government of Iloilo will adopt alternative work arrangements effective Monday (March 28) in support of the fuel conservation measures of the national government.
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. signed Memorandum Order No. 5 for the alternative work arrangement on Thursday composed of the four-day compressed workweek and the work-from-home arrangement.
“Let me say this again. We already implemented the four-day workweek before and that’s because of the pandemic. Right now, we are doing this alternative work arrangement not only because of the rising cost of fuel,” he said during a press conference.
The four-day compressed workweek will have to render 10 hours of work from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. inclusive of one-hour lunch break.
The provincial capitol remains open for five days since workers will have a different four-day working schedule.
“There are employees who will have five-day workweek but one day is work-from-home,” he explained.
The governor said the work arrangement also applies to offices of the provincial government that are outside of the capitol.
“Offices and hospitals providing essential services, health and emergency frontline services, and critical services shall operate at a workforce beyond the minimum as may be necessary to deliver their mandates,” the memorandum order states.
The work arrangement will be temporary depending on the development of fuel prices.
He added that the provincial government decided to adopt the work arrangement because it was recommended by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and supported by the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
Apart from the provincial government, the city government has also adopted the four-day workweek except for several offices that will be providing essential services effective Monday.
Those that will continue to render five days of work at the city hall, among others, are the City Health Office and district health centers, Public Safety and Transportation Management Office, project monitoring of the City Engineer’s Office, and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. (PNA)
