Senate Deputy Minority Leader Joel Villanueva on Thursday urged government agencies and private companies to adopt work-from-home (WFH) and other flexible work arrangements to help ease fuel consumption amid rising oil prices triggered by tensions in the Middle East.
“Sa panahon na tumataas po ang presyo ng langis dahil sa mga kaguluhan sa ibang bahagi ng mundo, dapat pong gamitin natin ang mga mekanismong mayroon na tayo sa batas upang makatulong sa mga manggagawa,” Villanueva said.
He highlighted the Telecommuting Act, which he authored and sponsored, as a practical solution to mitigate the impact of higher fuel costs.
“Hindi lang benepisyo sa empleyado ang epekto ng Work-from-Home law. Isa rin po itong praktikal na hakbang upang mabawasan ang konsumo ng gasolina at diesel lalo na at inaasahan po nating sisipa pataas ang presyo dulot ng kaguluhan sa Middle East,” he added.
Enacted in 2018, the Telecommuting Act mandates that private employers recognize and fairly treat employees working under alternative setups, including remote work.
Analysts warn that oil prices in the Philippines may rise weekly due to the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, which threatens supply disruptions from the Middle East, a key source of global oil flows.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. previously assured that the country’s oil reserves remain sufficient, with stockpiles estimated to last between 50 to 60 days.