BUTUAN CITY – The provincial government of Surigao del Sur has implemented cost-saving protocols amid the ongoing increase in fuel costs, with measures covering official travel and moderation of costly activities to mitigate the effects of the energy crisis, officials announced Wednesday.

"Guidelines were already approved on Tuesday that outline measures to ease the impacts of the present fuel crisis," Provincial Administrator John Vincent Pimentel said in an interview.

He added that the austerity measures are comprehensive, covering all officials and offices of the provincial government.

The guidelines restrict travel to indispensable functions that cannot be done through virtual meetings or electronic communication. Unjustified travels or extensions beyond activity duration will no longer be authorized.

Travels allowed include onsite evaluations, campaign activities, and mandatory accreditation, involving only limited personnel. The Provincial Human Resources Office will review travel requests submitted on the first Wednesday of the month, while the Provincial Accounting Office shall strictly monitor travel durations.

Benchmarking and study tours outside the province are discouraged unless proven indispensable for policy or program results.

All activities must secure prior authorization from the Office of the Governor, with priority given to essential official transactions and direct program implementation. Meetings, seminars, and training must be held within the province whenever practical, prioritizing local venues to reduce travel requirements.

Likewise, government offices are encouraged to provide virtual participation for attendees to eliminate unnecessary travel. Trip consolidation combining official tasks and destinations will also reduce vehicle deployments, while drivers are required to use the shortest and least-congested paths to avoid peak-hour delays.

However, the guidelines clarified that government hospitals, the provincial jail, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the provincial supply chain will remain on full regular operation to ensure an uninterrupted delivery of critical services.

"Energy protocols in these offices must not compromise or impede their mandated public services," the guidelines stated.

Last month, Gov. Johnny Pimentel issued Memorandum Order 28 on implementing a compressed work week every second and fourth week of the month, with employees working from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (PNA)