To conserve energy, save costs: City Hall back to 4-day week

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has reinstated the four-day work week for City Hall employees, citing energy conservation and cost-saving measures amid rising fuel and commodity prices and recurring rotational brownouts.

"Starting today (yesteday), trabaho sa Cebu City government is Monday to Thursday, alas 8:00 sa buntag hangtod alas 7:00 sa gabii. Friday, walay tawo sa City Hall, but si Mayor magpadayon gihapon bisag naa ang iyahang EO, he will continue to serve until Sunday,” Archival’s chief of staff Kenneth Siasar told the media yesterday.

Under Executive Order No. 113, City Hall employees are required to render 10-hour shifts from Monday to Thursday to complete the required 40-hour workweek.

The city first implemented the compressed work schedule in April 2026 as a pilot program aimed at reducing electricity and water consumption while maintaining the 40-hour work requirement through longer daily shifts.

The Human Resource Development Office (HRDO) monitored the pilot program and reported lower electricity costs, although water consumption increased.

Because of the mixed results, Archival announced on May 4, 2026 that City Hall would return to the regular five-day workweek. The change, however, created confusion after the legislative department, led by Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña, continued to observe a four-day schedule.

The executive department returned to a five-day schedule to ensure continuity of frontline services, while maintaining that the legislative side did not require daily office hours.

The differing schedules prompted calls for clarification and a request for a legal opinion from the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

With EO 113, Archival has reinstated the four-day workweek across City Hall offices, with the HRDO tasked with issuing detailed implementing guidelines. Essential services, including health, disaster response, police, fire protection, sanitation and traffic management, are exempt from the compressed schedule and will continue operating on shifts to ensure uninterrupted public service.

The HRDO clarified that the longer daily schedule does not automatically constitute overtime. Work rendered beyond the compressed hours must be properly authorized.

Leave credits will also be adjusted to reflect the 10-hour workday, with absences charged at 1.25 days per leave credit.

Department heads are required to ensure continuity of public service and designate personnel to handle essential transactions.

Meetings, training and official activities may still be scheduled outside the compressed workweek when necessary.

The HRDO and the City Administrator will monitor compliance and assess the arrangement’s impact on electricity and fuel savings, employee productivity and accessibility of public services. — (FREEMAN)