BSP WFH heats up DOF

This is a tongue-in-cheek tale about households that share a centralized air-conditioning unit and the danger in over reliance that such service must be rendered at all times. Likewise, it is also a cautionary reminder not to switch off the air-conditioning at the height of summer as it may cause some to overheat and publicly rail about the inconsiderate action of its household head.

It seems that the recent decision of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to adopt a work-from-home arrangement in compliance with President Marcos’ directive for government agencies to adopt a four-day work week to help minimize electricity, and thus reduce fuel consumption in light of the prolonged Middle East conflict, has rubbed some employees of its “neighbor” at the BSP Complex along Roxas Blvd the wrong way.

The BSP announced on April 16 that it would adjust its onsite operating hours of select offices, in support of government efforts to reduce energy consumption. Critical BSP offices, it was assured, would continue onsite public services from Monday to Friday, while non-frontline offices would adopt work-from-home arrangements on Mondays and Fridays.

Check-clearing transactions would be processed at BSP Manila from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Onsite transactions involving BSP-acquired real properties and receipt of physical mail and documents from the public would continue at the separate BSP Hub ( recently converted from a money museum) in Manila from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Tellering services at BSP Manila, Security Plant Complex in Quezon City and BSP regional offices and branches nationwide would be available from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday to Thursday.

The BSP Online Buddy (BOB) chatbot, accessible via the BSP website, BSP Facebook Messenger and BSP mobile app, would continue to receive financial consumer complaints, 24/7. Complaints may also be sent to [email protected]. (The DOF officials apparently to chose to air their grievance on FB).

BSP-supervised financial institutions and non-bank financial institutions (i.e., pawnshops, non-stock savings and loan associations, money changers and remittance agents) can continue submitting documents electronically via [email protected].

While the BSP thought that its official announcement about its curtailed onsite operating hours would suffice, it apparently failed to adequately convey to and /or inform its neighbor – the Department of Finance – that with its new WFH schedule, it would mean that with majority of BSP personnel not physically working at the BSP complex, the BSP building’s air-conditioning system would likewise be shut down, specifically to comply with Malacañang’s energy consumption savings directive.

Unfortunately, the BSP complex uses a centralized air-conditioning system that also includes the EDPC (Electronic Data Processing Center) Building, a key facility within BSP Complex in Manila that serves as a major office site housing the Civil Service Commission, BSP and various Department of Finance agencies.

Its key occupants include the National Tax Research Center, which is located on the 8th floor, while the Central Board of Assessment Appeal is on the 7th floor of the EDPC Building.

The DOF, since it transferred to the BSP complex in the mid-1990s, has been relying on BSP airconditioning. Although it has its own air-conditioners, they have not been utilized and are thus no longer working.

While the BSP implemented it WFH starting April 17, the DOF maintained its regular weekly office hours as the majority of the DOF offices are housed in another office tower adjacent to the main BSP and EDPC buildings, but connected by a walkway. The DOF building has its own separate entrance and parking facility facing Roxas Boulevard.

Responding to the criticism from the DOF, the BSP reached out and sought to appease the offended fiscal official and sent chillers and industrial fans to help ease the suffocating condition at the affected DOF offices. Unfortunately, the official was still displeased and expressed the view on social media that such inconsiderate action could affect the chances of BSP personnel getting into heaven.

Thankfully, the DOF has decided to implement its own WFH mandate, helping resolve the lack of air-conditioning.

Let me assure you my readers that the BSP and the DOF have been in a love-hate relationship for quite awhile already, even during my days as a banking and finance beat reporter from the 1980s to 1990s.

When the DOF transferred to the BSP complex in Manila from their former building at the Agrifina Circle near the National Museum, a strict ID system was implemented with regard to access to the two separate institutions of the BSP and the DOF.

It meant that the DOF employees could not simply enter from the M.H. del Pilar street gate of the BSP (in front of the old Harrison Plaza Shopping Center where the public utility jeepneys drop off passengers) through the main BSP building to cross over to the DOF offices or from the third floor walkway access. Instead, the DOF employees and visitors had to use their own entrance facing Roxas Blvd. and the Philippine Navy Headquarters which meant a longer walk around from M.H del Pilar to Roxas Blvd.

Parking was another irritant as DOF employees were entitled only to a limited amount of parking at the underground facility of the EDPC Building and, thus, had to park along the bypass road in front of the BSP complex in front of Roxas Blvd.

There was even a power play to secure a seat on the independent Monetary Board, where the finance secretary was not originally a member; instead, either the budget minister or the trade secretary held that seat. The DOF ultimately won that battle.

Moral of the story: install separate air-conditioning systems – and remember, heat always brings out the devil in us.