BACOLOD CITY – The provincial government of Negros Oriental returned to regular working hours on Monday, June 8, after almost three months in a four-day compressed work week due to the impact of rising fuel prices.
Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria issued Executive Order No. 38 lifting the flexible work arrangement and mandating all departments and offices to revert to the standard regular work schedule.
All officials and employees shall report for work from Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., ensuring that public services are fully available throughout regular government operating hours, Sagarbarria said.
Offices involved in the delivery of essential health services, disaster response, and other critical frontline operations that require uninterrupted services shall continue to observe their respective rotational shifting schedules.
The governor noted that this move aims to maximize operational efficiency, foster seamless inter-office coordination, and ensure the optimal delivery of frontline services to the public.
The provincial government implemented a compressed work week on March 9 under Executive Order No. 28 to address energy conservation measures pursuant to Office of the President Memorandum Circular No. 114 while ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of essential public services.
Conditions and circumstances that necessitated the adoption of the alternative work arrangement have since been mitigated to warrant the return to the regular work week, Sagarbarria said.