• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Starting March 16, all Capitol offices and departments will have office hours from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday to Friday, “until revoked or modified by the President of the Philippines,” Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said in an executive order issued Saturday.
Lacson said the province recognizes the need to adopt appropriate operational measures that align with national energy conservation protocols while maintaining the efficient delivery of public services.
He cited OP Memorandum Circular 114 dated March 6, 2026, directing all government agencies and instrumentalities, including local government units, to adopt and implement energy conservation measures in their respective offices to cushion the impact of rising global oil prices brought by the ongoing Middle East conflict.
The compressed work schedule ensures that the required 40 working hours per week are fully complied with, Lacson’s directive said.
However, “offices providing essential and frontline services shall remain fully operational at all times to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of public services.” These include provincial government-run hospitals, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and Economic Enterprise Development Department (EEDD).
The EEDD manages the Negros Residences, Food Terminal Market, Negros Cyber Center, and Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary.
Based on the governor’s directive, such offices may adopt the 10-hour workday schedule “provided that appropriate shifting or duty arrangements shall be implemented to ensure that offices remain open and services remain available to the public.”
Also in support of the national government’s energy conservation initiatives, Lacson ordered all capitol offices to adopt appropriate measures consistent with Memorandum Circular 114.
Among these are ensuring the efficient and judicious use of electricity and other energy resources in government facilities; maximizing the use of digital platforms and virtual meetings where practicable to reduce operational energy consumption; and limiting official travel to essential and indispensable functions and avoiding travel when objectives may be accomplished through alternative modalities.
Meanwhile, three state universities in Negros will start implementing the compressed four-day workweek, in line with the memorandum for the Office of the President.
The Carlos Hilado Memorial State University said that effective tomorrow, March 10, it will implement a temporary four-day workweek across all four campuses – Talisay (Main), Binalbagan, and Alijis and Fortune Towne in Bacolod – until further notice.
“Under this arrangement, the university will maintain the standard 40-hour weekly requirement through compressed 10-hour shifts, or from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday to Thursday,” the CHMSU advisory said.
“All employees will work from home this coming Friday, March 13. All staff (GASS, casual, and job order) and faculty will report on-campus Monday to Thursday, and all Friday classes will shift to synchronous or asynchronous online delivery, with hybrid options available for students with limited connectivity,” it added. “Saturday classes, NSTP, community engagements, and scheduled admission exams will proceed as planned to minimize disruption.”
The university said the four-day workweek aims to achieve a 10 to 20 percent measurable reductions, per DOE target, in electricity, fuel, and operational costs without compromising the quality of education, research, community engagement, and administrative services.
This will also promote work-life balance, sustainability awareness, and institutional resilience…amid the global energy crisis, the CHMSU added.
The Central Philippines State University (CPSU), based in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, also announced an adjusted office schedule under a compressed four-day workweek, but only for identified offices in the main campus.
“Effective this week, office hours will start between 7-7:30 a.m. and end between 6-6:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday, while offices will be closed on Fridays. “This adjustment supports the government’s initiative on energy conservation and operational efficiency while ensuring the continued delivery of services to students, stakeholders, and the public.”
The Negros Oriental State University will also implement a four-day, 10-hour onsite work arrangement, starting today, until further notice.
Classes scheduled on Monday and Tuesday shall be conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays are for in-person classes, while Wednesdays and Thursdays for synchronous or asynchronous classes, the NORSU advisory said.
Regular faculty members shall adopt a compressed workweek schedule from Tuesday to Friday, while those previously granted flexible work arrangements shall temporarily follow the compressed workweek schedule. “Offices providing essential services, including but not limited to the University Clinic, buildings and grounds, farm technicians, motorpool, and the University Security and Management Office, shall observe a skeletal workforce arrangement to ensure continuous delivery of services.” | CGC
