4-Day Workweek Na! Government Offices and LGUs Go Compressed Schedule Amid Oil Crisis
Say goodbye to Fridays at the office — at least for now. Government agencies and local government units across the Philippines have officially started implementing a four-day workweek after President Marcos ordered a compressed schedule to help ease the burden of skyrocketing fuel costs. Under Memorandum Circular No. 114, the shift began on March 9, 2026.
Manila Mayor Isko Domagoso wasted no time, signing Executive Order No. 8 to condense city government operations to Monday through Thursday, with extended hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. or 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Other Metro Manila LGUs quickly followed — Las Piñas, Malabon, Makati, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Pasay, and San Juan all announced their own compressed schedules, most running 7 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m.
On the national level, heavy hitters like the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, GSIS, SSS, DepEd, DTI, and MMDA have all adopted the new setup. Many are allowing work-from-home arrangements on Fridays, with the Supreme Court requiring at least 25 percent of staff to report on-site to keep operations running. The SSS adopted a flexible system to maintain Monday-to-Friday services despite the compressed schedule.
Even LGUs outside Metro Manila are getting on board — from San Jose in Nueva Ecija to Koronadal in South Cotabato to Burgos in La Union. The DILG formally released its guidelines through Circular No. 2026-005, making sure essential services like public safety, health, and social welfare remain operational despite the shortened workweek.
The move comes as fuel prices continue to spiral due to escalating Middle East tensions. With government employees saving on one day's worth of commuting costs per week, the policy is designed to provide immediate relief — though some business groups worry about potential revenue drops of 10 to 15 percent if productivity doesn't compensate for the lost work hours.
Source: Philstar.com, GMA News
