CAGAYAN DE ORO – Following similar moves by other local government units in Mindanao, Mayor Rolando Uy has ordered the implementation of a four-day compressed workweek for all City Hall offices and employees to help conserve energy amid rising global fuel prices.
City Information Officer Jade Adecer said the mayor directed the implementation of the policy starting Monday, pending the signing of the executive order.
“Beginning today, City Hall employees will leave their offices at 7 p.m., with two additional hours added to their regular workdays from Monday to Thursday,” Adecer said.
Under the arrangement, city government offices will operate longer hours for four days each week as part of the local government’s effort to reduce electricity consumption and operational costs.
There will be no work on Fridays in line with Memorandum Circular No. 114 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which encourages energy conservation measures as tensions in the Middle East continue to affect global fuel prices.
Adecer said essential service units are exempted from the order, including the City Hospital, the Road and Traffic Administration, the City Health Office, and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
The memorandum also directs department heads to strictly limit electricity consumption and adopt other energy-saving measures in their respective offices.
Mayor Uy is also encouraging local traders and private establishments to consider adopting a similar compressed workweek arrangement.
However, some business leaders expressed caution about the program, saying it may pose challenges for the local economy.
George Goking, former city councilor and president of the Xavier University Alumni Association, said he is uncertain whether the compressed workweek would lead to actual savings for the city government.
“Extending work hours means additional expenses for employees, who may need to buy dinner instead of eating at home,” Goking said.
Meanwhile, Ralph Paguio, senior vice president of Cagayan Electric Power and Light Company and business sector representative to the Regional Development Council Region 10, said their firm is exempt from the program as an essential power utility.
Paguio added that many local traders may hesitate to adopt the four-day workweek, noting that businesses are already preparing for possible increases in commodity prices.
“Many establishments would rather recover rising costs through increased sales than absorb additional expenses,” he said.
Meanwhile, the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato have also begun implementing a four-day workweek and work-from-home setup this week as part of their energy-saving measures.
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Oro adopts 4-day workweek to conserve energy
CAGAYAN DE ORO — Mayor Rolando Uy has officially implemented a four-day compressed workweek for City Hall employees as a strategic move to reduce energy consumption amid rising global fuel costs. Following Memorandum Circular No. 114, city offices will now operate from Monday to Thursday, extending daily hours until 7:00 PM, with Fridays designated as non-working days. While essential services like the City Hospital and CDRRMO remain exempt, the policy has sparked debate among local leaders. Former councilor George Goking questioned the actual savings for employees, citing increased personal expenses, while CEPALCO’s Ralph Paguio noted that private traders might hesitate to adopt the shift. This energy-saving measure aligns CDO with other Mindanao provinces, including Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato, in response to ongoing Middle East tensions. -
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