DSWD assures uninterrupted services under 4-day work week
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday, March 9, assured the public that its key programs and assistance services will continue without disruption despite the government’s shift to a four-day compressed work week.
The arrangement follows Memorandum Circular No. 114 issued by the Office of the President on March 6, which directs government agencies to adopt energy conservation measures, including flexible work arrangements.
Under the directive, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian ordered the implementation of a compressed work week (CWW) across the agency’s Central Office and field offices nationwide.
“To effectively comply with these national conservation mandates while ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of our social protection services, the DSWD Central Office and Field Offices, including the satellite offices, are hereby directed to adopt the CWW arrangement,” Gatchalian said in a memorandum.
The compressed work week means the usual 40-hour work schedule for government employees will be completed in four days instead of five, requiring personnel to work 10 hours per day.
DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao said the public should expect the department’s programs and services to remain accessible.
Despite the compressed schedule, several frontline programs and services will remain open and operational throughout the week, including the Disaster Response Command Center (DRCC), Crisis Intervention Program units, the Pag-abot Program, Minors Traveling Abroad clearance processing, and the Walang Gutom Program, including the Walang Gutom Kitchen.
The department’s centers and residential care facilities will also continue operating.
Dumlao said offices providing immediate assistance will continue serving the public five days a week.
“All of our offices that provide immediate assistance will remain open five days a week. These include the DRCC which monitors weather disturbances and other disasters, satellite offices processing Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), outreach for families in street situations, the processing of minors traveling abroad clearance, the Walang Gutom Program and Kitchen, and all DSWD centers and residential care facilities,” she said.
The DSWD also said that provincial, city and municipal staff of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) are exempted from the four-day work week.
Meanwhile, personnel under the Disaster Response Management Group will remain on standby for on-site operations during disasters.