Cebu Vice Governor Glenn Anthony Soco has expressed opposition to the proposed four-day workweek in the province, warning that the measure could disrupt business operations and negatively affect the local economy.
Soco said he does not support the proposal if it is being considered merely as a reaction to possible fuel supply disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East.
“I don’t support that if it is just a reactionary measure regarding the crisis in the Middle East because it might cause disruptions in business which would affect our economy eventually,” Soco said.
He noted that several industries—including healthcare, retail, and other essential services—cannot easily reduce operating days without affecting their operations and service delivery.
“You cannot just call across the board four-day work a week,” he said, stressing the need for careful planning before implementing such a policy.
Soco also raised concerns about possible misalignment with global business schedules, noting that international obligations would continue even if local offices shorten their workweek.
According to Soco, the proposal may not necessarily result in significant savings for households.
“Some households may not necessarily reduce expenses simply by staying at home for an additional day,” he said.
Instead of shortening the workweek, Soco suggested exploring other options to conserve energy, such as revisiting the possibility of implementing daylight saving time.
“I was even considering proposing daylight saving time. I think angayan sad na e revisit,” he said.
Despite his reservations, Soco said the provincial government continues to support practical fuel-saving initiatives.
He noted that provincial offices have already implemented shared fuel allocations, while officials are also studying possible adjustments in vehicle use and the potential shift to electric vehicles.
The proposal for a four-day workweek surfaced as the national government under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. studies contingency measures to address possible disruptions in global oil supply due to tensions in the Middle East.
Among the options being examined is the possibility of shortening the workweek to help reduce fuel consumption and ease pressure from rising oil prices.
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro, for her part, earlier signaled openness to the idea and said it could be explored as a way to boost productivity and improve the well-being of workers.
In a social media post, Baricuatro said shorter, more focused workweeks have been shown in some studies to maintain or even improve productivity while giving employees more time for personal and family priorities.
She also encouraged the public to share their views on the proposal as the provincial government studies the possibility. (SBA)
