Employees at the Cebu Provincial Government will no longer report for work on Fridays after the provincial government adopted a four-day workweek at the Cebu Provincial Capitol as part of its energy conservation efforts.
Governor Pamela Baricuatro formalized the arrangement after signing Executive Order No. 16, Series of 2026 on Monday, introducing a compressed work schedule and several energy-saving measures for provincial offices.
Under the policy, employees will report to work from Monday to Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., beginning this week.
Despite the shorter workweek, employees will still complete the required 40-hour work schedule through longer daily shifts.
Baricuatro said the provincial government adopted the measure following discussions within the Capitol, emphasizing the need to promote responsible energy consumption.
“We agreed that for now, because of energy conservation, maayo gud na mag four-day work week,” she said.
The governor also encouraged the province’s 53 component cities and municipalities to explore similar work arrangements if feasible.
“We are encouraging the component cities and municipalities to adopt similar measures,” Baricuatro added.
However, the policy will not apply to frontline offices providing critical public services, particularly those handling healthcare, emergency response, and public safety.
These offices will maintain their regular schedules to ensure uninterrupted services to the public.
The executive order also cited Memorandum Circular No. 114 issued by the Office of the President, which encourages local government units to adopt stricter energy conservation initiatives and flexible work arrangements.
Aside from the compressed workweek, the order outlines additional measures aimed at reducing electricity consumption in government facilities.
Among these is maintaining air-conditioning units at a thermostat setting of 24 degrees Celsius in office spaces. Offices are also encouraged to temporarily shut down air-conditioning systems for at least two hours during the workday when conditions allow.
The order also directs offices to switch off non-essential lights and electronic equipment during lunch breaks, after office hours, and on days when offices are not operating.
Government offices are likewise advised to maximize natural lighting and ventilation and activate energy-saving settings on office equipment.
Compliance with the new measures will be monitored by the Provincial Human Resource Management Office, Provincial General Services Office, and the Provincial Planning and Development Office.
Aside from reducing electricity consumption, the provincial government is also promoting cost-saving measures in transportation and official travel.
The executive order encourages offices to prioritize virtual meetings for inter-office coordination and consultations, while official travel should be limited to essential activities.
Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces said the provincial government is also studying the possible social and economic effects of the new work arrangement.
Empaces noted that sectors relying on daily commuting activity, including habal-habal and jeepney drivers, could feel the impact if fewer employees travel on Fridays.
“Naa say plano mag discuss…mag consultation sad mi sa private sector para just to get their feel,” Empaces said.
He added that consultations with private stakeholders will be conducted to better understand the potential effects of the policy.
The provincial government is also studying contingency measures, including accelerating rice distribution programs, particularly for sectors that may experience income disruptions.
Empaces said the administration will continue reviewing the policy with department heads and stakeholders to ensure that public services remain efficient while the province pursues its energy conservation goals. (SBA)
