• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Bacolod City government employees are back on a five-day workweek per orders of Mayor Greg Gasataya May 11.
Gasataya, in Executive Order 26 signed May 11 and effective immediately, ordered the return of the regular Monday to Friday workweek for employees, as he noted “improved economic conditions, including the stabilization of fuel prices and transportation costs.”
This move aims to strengthen public service efficiency, improve coordination among offices, and ensure faster government response as the city continues its recovery, he added.
The EO directs all department heads to ensure a smooth transition from the four-day workweek back to the regular five-day schedule without disrupting public services, the city said.
Gasataya said the move aligns with the city’s austerity and energy conservation measures, adding that Bacolod will continue to implement low-cost efficiency efforts.
The city initially adopted a compressed four-day workweek, or from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Thursday, on March 16 in compliance with Memorandum Circular 114, issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., dated March 6.
Section 3 of the memo pushed for the adoption of flexible work arrangements, either via a four-day onsite work arrangement, through a compressed workweek, or a designated common day for work-from-home (WFH) arrangements, to further reduce building energy load and transport fuel use.
Effective April 6, Bacolod employees were tasked to report onsite Monday to Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and adopt a WFH arrangement every Friday.
Gasataya said the decision to return to the five-day workweek was made after thorough assessment and discussion with Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesus Victor Remulla when the latter was in Bacolod May 9. | CGC
