DepEd to implement 4-day workweek arrangement starting March 9

DepEd to implement 4-day workweek arrangement starting March 9

The Department of Education (DepEd) has officially transitioned to a four-day workweek arrangement, effective March 2026. This shift follows the government directive aimed at reducing fuel consumption and operational overhead across executive offices.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara has clarified that the newly implemented four-day workweek applies exclusively to non-teaching personnel and administrative staff within DepEd’s Central, Regional, and Division offices to streamline operations and save energy. In contrast, public schools will maintain their regular five-day class schedules for both students and teaching personnel to ensure that instructional delivery remains uninterrupted and learning objectives are met.

To facilitate this transition, several Schools Division Offices (SDOs) have already issued specific division memoranda—such as SDO Antipolo City, which released an official advisory under MC No. 114 for a "4-day onsite (Mon-Thu) and Work-From-Home (Fri)" arrangement starting March 9, 2026—outlining their respective internal guidelines, monitoring mechanisms, and designated schedules for office-based employees.

The advisory states: FOR SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE PERSONNEL ONLY, SCHOOLS OPERATIONS AND SCHEDULES REMAIN UNCHANGED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. WAIT FOR A SEPARATE ANNOUNCEMENT.

The transition to a four-day schedule is not a "one-size-fits-all" policy. Its implementation depends on the specific nature of the service provided:

• Office-Based Personnel: Employees in the Central, Regional, and Schools Division Offices (SDOs) are the primary beneficiaries. They will adopt a Compressed Workweek, typically clocking in 10 hours per day to complete the mandatory 40-hour workweek in four days.

• Hybrid Options: Under Memorandum Circular No. 114, some offices may opt for a "4-day onsite, 1-day WFH" model to further minimize building utility costs.

• Public School Teachers: To ensure that student learning remains uninterrupted, classes will continue on a five-day schedule. While teachers remain on a five-day workweek for instructional purposes, they may still utilize flexible arrangements for their two hours of ancillary (non-teaching) tasks.

The Department highlighted three primary reasons for the implementation:
• Energy Conservation: Lowering the electricity and water consumption of massive government buildings by closing for an extra day.
• Economic Relief: Helping employees mitigate the impact of high transport costs and inflation.
• Work-Life Balance: Providing administrative staff with longer rest periods to boost overall productivity and morale.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized that "frontline services"—those dealing directly with public inquiries, legal filings, and emergency responses—will maintain a skeletal workforce or a staggered schedule.This ensures that even with a four-day arrangement, the public can still access DepEd services throughout the standard Monday-to-Friday window.

Note: All personnel are still required to meet the 40-hour weekly requirement.