The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) has implemented a four-day onsite and one-day work-from-home (WFH) arrangement as part of the government’s energy conservation efforts amid global market volatility caused by the Middle East crisis.
In a memorandum dated March 8, Acting Secretary Dave Gomez directed employees to report onsite from Monday to Thursday, with Friday designated as the common WFH day. The move follows Memorandum Circular No. 114, which requires government agencies to reduce electricity and fuel consumption.
Under the new setup, staff may adopt flexible schedules between 7 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., provided they complete the mandated 40-hour workweek. Supervisors are tasked to submit monthly work programs for WFH days, while attendance and productivity will be monitored through the agency’s digital system.
The memorandum also mandated energy-saving measures inside the New Executive Building, including limiting lighting and air-conditioning use, setting thermostats to 24°C, and placing office equipment on energy-saving mode when idle.
The hybrid arrangement is temporary as the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pushes government offices to reduce energy consumption while global oil prices remain unstable.