4-day onsite workweek in some gov’t offices starting March 9 — Marcos

MANILA, Philippines – Beginning March 9, some government offices will observe a four-day onsite workweek, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Friday, March 6, as he shared government preparations amid an impending oil price hike due to the Middle East crisis.

In a video message released late Friday afternoon, Marcos assured Filipinos that the government was preparing for higher oil prices following the United States and Israel’s war against Iran, with increases estimated at P7.48 per liter for gasoline, P17.28 per liter for diesel, and P32.35 per liter for kerosene.

“Para naman sa bahagi ng pamahalaan: Simula sa Lunes, ika-9 ng Marso, pansamantala nating ipapatupad ang four-day workweek sa ilang tanggapan ng ehekutibo. Hindi kabilang dito ang mga nagbibigay ng emergency o pangunahing serbisyo, gaya ng mga pulis, bumbero, at mga tanggapan na nagbibigay ng frontline services sa publiko,” he said.

(On the part of government: Starting Monday, March 9, we will temporarily implement a four-day workweek in some offices under the executive. This does not include those that provide emergency or vital services, such as the police, firemen, and agencies that provide frontline services to the public.)

The President said he had directed all government agencies to reduce power consumption and petroleum expenses by 10% to 20%.

He has also prohibited non-essential travel and activities in government, such as study tours, team-building activities, and meetings that can be done virtually.

Marcos reiterated that he is coordinating with Congress to be granted emergency powers to reduce the excise tax on petroleum products if oil prices hit $80 per barrel. He is also pushing for the amendment of the Biofuels Act of 2006 “so we can use the cheaper bioethanol to bring down gas prices.”

The President said fuel subsidies and cash transfers will be released “as soon as possible” for the affected sectors.

He also said the government will closely monitor prices of goods to ensure that no one takes advantage of the situation, and that government agencies will monitor and address the needs of Filipinos in the Middle East.

“Mga kababayan, hindi natin alam kung kailan matatapos ang kaguluhan sa Gitnang Silangan. Biktima tayo ng isang giyera na hindi natin pinili o ninanais. Hindi natin kontrolado ang digmaan. Pero kontrolado natin kung paano natin poprotektahan ang Pilipino,” he said.

(Our countrymen, we do not know when the conflict in the Middle East will end. We are victims of a war that we did not choose or want. We cannot control the war. But we can control how we will protect Filipinos.)

Also on Friday, the Presidential Communications Office released a photo of Marcos in a phone conversation with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to “express solidarity with the UAE and confidence in its continued efforts to ensure the safety of all residents, including nearly 1 million Filipinos in the UAE.”

– Rappler.com