BACOLOD CITY – The local governments of Toboso and Silay City in Negros Occidental are returning to a five-day work week starting Monday, May 11, after more than a month of implementing a four-day compressed work week as part of energy conservation measures.
In a media interview, Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco said the four-day work week was not effective for the municipality, noting that they did not see significant energy savings and that it negatively affected public service delivery.
“The compressed work week creates operational bottlenecks, slowing service and progress of our municipality,” Jaojoco said.
Jaojoco explained that under the compressed work week, employees worked longer hours, with an additional two hours added each day.
However, he observed that client transactions significantly dropped in the afternoon, with around 30 percent fewer people visiting government offices.
He added that the municipality already benefits from renewable energy through its solar power system, making the four-day schedule less practical.
“Why would we continue with something that is no longer favorable for us?” Jaojoco said, stressing that returning to a five-day work week would provide greater benefit to constituents.
He admitted that the four-day work week caused “more harm than good” for the municipality.
Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego also announced on Saturday, May 9, the resumption of the five-day work week in the city government offices.
All city government offices shall be open to serve the public from 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The public was advised to plan visits and transactions accordingly.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said that he will get clarification from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) about the matter for guidelines.