4-day work week for gov’t offices pushed

MANILA, Philippines - A lawmaker yesterday urged government offices with no frontline functions to adopt the four-day work week approved by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles said the scheme could be adopted not just in Metro Manila but in the entire country as well as this could result in billions in energy savings.

But he said that only government offices with no direction interaction with the public and emergency response-related work should have the option to go on a four-day work schedule.

Nograles said state workers like teachers, licensing and permits personnel, policemen and firemen should continue with their present work schedule.

He added that apart from easing Metro Manila’s traffic congestion, a four-day work week would result in electricity and fuel savings on the part of the government and commuters.

“We will reduce our overall energy demand, save billions in electric bills, and we will be saving the planet by reducing carbon emission,” Nograles said.

The CSC has approved an optional four-day work week for government offices in Metro Manila. Employees can be required to work from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., with an hour off for lunch break.

Concerned officials and agencies have been proposing various solutions to Metro Manila’s traffic woes.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has been experimenting on how to speed up the flow of traffic along Katipunan Avenue and C-5 Road from Quezon City up to South Luzon Expressway.