Jolo Revilla Pushes WFH for Private Sector — 'Less Cars, Less Gas, Less Problem'

With fuel prices going through the roof thanks to the ongoing Middle East conflict, Cavite 1st District Rep. Jolo Revilla is calling on the private sector to adopt work-from-home arrangements as a practical response to the crisis. His logic is simple: fewer people commuting means less gas consumed, which helps stretch the country's oil reserves that are estimated to last only about 60 days.

"If there are fewer people that travel, there is less consumption of gas. This is a big help not only for employees but for the whole country in the time of crisis," Revilla said in Filipino. The lawmaker is urging the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to work with private employers to establish flexible work setups, complete with clear guidelines to protect workers' rights.

Revilla isn't just asking for a temporary fix. He wants flexible work arrangements to become a long-term labor policy — not just an emergency perk but a strategic response framework that the country can activate whenever similar crises hit. He emphasized the need for coordinated action between government, employers, and workers to build resilience against global economic shocks.

The government is already walking the talk on its end. Several agencies have shifted to a temporary four-day workweek under Malacañang's Memorandum Circular No. 114, part of broader energy conservation measures. The circular cited "an urgent need to adopt strict energy conservation measures" to reduce the government's energy footprint and optimize public resources.

With fuel prices na patuloy na tumataas and commuters feeling the squeeze, the WFH push makes practical sense. Whether the private sector follows through remains to be seen, pero for millions of Filipino workers, the idea of ditching the commute — even temporarily — sounds like a win.

Source: Daily Tribune