Modified work arrangements and electricity consumption management will be at the forefront of cost-cutting measures that the House of Representatives will implement in the coming months.

This, as the country grapples with economic uncertainties caused by the war in the Middle East--a major oil producing region.

In a five-page memorandum attributed to House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil and dated March 12, all offices were directed to implement the measures in line with Malacañang’s fiscal discipline policy.

“In line with the Office of the President Memorandum Circular No. 114 dated 6 March 2026, the House of Representatives shall adopt the following modified work arrangements and guidelines to streamline operations, reduce non-essential expenditures, and optimize the use of public resources,” the memorandum read.

Under the new work se-tup, offices will adopt a hybrid work arrangement during both recess and session periods. During recess, personnel will report on-site on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and work from home (WFH) on Mondays and Thursdays.

For session periods, the House under Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III will maintain a stronger on-site presence to support legislative work, with personnel reporting on-site from Monday to Wednesday and working from home on Thursdays.

All offices are directed to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of services by providing their contact details, including mobile numbers and email addresses.

These contact details should be made publicly available and posted on the House of Representatives website, official Facebook account, and the HRep Viber Group, particularly during work-from-home (WFH) days to ensure continuous communication and accessibility.

Certain operational units—including the Engineering and Physical Facilities Department, Medical and Dental Service, Records Management Service and the Legislative Security Bureau—are required to maintain a skeletal workforce on-site during WFH days to ensure continuous operations.

The memorandum also imposes tighter controls on official travel and meetings to cut operational costs.

Energy conservation measures form a major part of the initiative in the 300-plus strong legislative chamber.

Air-conditioning units may only be turned on at 8 a.m. and must be turned off at 6 p.m., except in essential areas such as the Session Hall during session days. Thermostat settings shall also be standardized at 24°C.

Lighting and electricity consumption will likewise be closely managed, with natural lighting maximized where sufficient daylight is available and lights in restrooms, meeting rooms and workspaces required to be turned off when not in use.

Computers and other office equipment will also follow stricter energy-saving protocols, including automatic monitor shutoff after five minutes of inactivity and limiting printing to essential documents while encouraging electronic circulation of files.

Transportation and fuel conservation measures are also part of the policy, including a strict no-idling rule for vehicles within House premises, the temporary suspension of requests for official House vehicles and the promotion of carpooling and alternative mobility such as bike racks.

Beyond the immediate cost-saving measures, the House will pursue longer-term investments to improve energy efficiency and sustainability across its facilities.

“The institution shall pursue long-term investments in energy-efficient technologies, including the installation of solar panels and adoption of net metering systems,” the memorandum stated.

“Lighting systems shall transition to high-efficiency LED fixtures, and inverter-type air-conditioning units shall be prioritized.”

The offices will designate energy efficiency officers or “Green Teams” to monitor compliance and recommend additional strategies to strengthen cost-cutting efforts.

The Executive Committee will also meet regularly to assess the impact of the measures and consider further initiatives to improve efficiency across the institution.