Marcos implements 4-day gov't workweek for Executive Branch amid oil risis

Marcos implements 4-day gov't workweek for Executive Branch amid oil risis

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has officially ordered a temporary shift to a four-day workweek for the Executive Department, effective Monday, March 9, 2026.

The directive, announced on March 6, aims to mitigate the impact of soaring fuel prices and energy supply disruptions. By reducing the physical workweek, the administration hopes to lower government consumption of electricity and petroleum by 10% to 20%.

“Para naman sa bahagi ng pamahalaan: Simula sa Lunes, ika-9 ng Marso, pansamantala nating ipapatupad ang four-day work week sa ilang tanggapan ng ehekutibo," sain Marcos.

”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,” Marcos added.

“Pansamantala ring ipinagbabawal ang mga biyahe at aktibidad ng pamahalaan na hindi naman kinakailangan, gaya ng mga study tour, team-building activities o mga meeting na maaari namang gawin online,” he said.

Who is Affected?
The order applies to the entire Executive Department, which is the largest branch of the Philippine government. It includes the Office of the President, the Office of the Vice President, and all Cabinet-level departments.

Key Departments shifting to the 4-day schedule include:
* Finance (DOF): Led by Secretary Frederick Go.
* Education (DepEd): Led by Secretary Sonny Angara.
* Agriculture (DA): Led by Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
* Interior and Local Government (DILG): Led by Secretary Jonvic Remulla.
* Public Works and Highways (DPWH): Led by Secretary Vince Dizon.
* Energy (DOE): Led by Secretary Sharon Garin.
* Foreign Affairs (DFA): Led by Secretary Tess Lazaro.
* Information and Communications Technology (DICT): Led by Secretary Henry Aguda.
* Social Welfare (DSWD): Led by Secretary Rex Gatchalian.

Other major offices included are the Departments of Justice (DOJ), Labor (DOLE), Science and Technology (DOST), and Tourism (DOT), among others.

Essential Services Exempted

To ensure national safety and continuous public assistance, the President clarified that agencies providing frontline and emergency services will maintain their regular schedules. These include:
* Public Hospitals: Under the Department of Health (DOH).
* Security Forces: The PNP (under DILG) and the Armed Forces (under DND).
* Disaster Response: The Bureau of Fire Protection and rescue units.

Additional Measures

Beyond the four-day shift, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto is expected to oversee a "tightening of the belt" across all agencies. This includes a temporary ban on non-essential government travel and a mandate for agencies to conduct meetings virtually whenever possible to save on transport costs.

The President concluded by calling on the private sector to consider similar flexible arrangements where feasible to further assist in national energy conservation.