Malacañang on Thursday, March 26, clarified that essential government services such as ambulance, police, fire, and health operations will not be affected by the government’s energy conservation measures amid rising global fuel prices.

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said agencies delivering frontline services are required to remain fully operational despite the implementation of a four-day onsite work arrangement in some government offices.

“The language of the President’s order is clear: Agencies that provide frontline services shall keep their services running at all times,” he said.

He stressed that the “overriding rule” is that “essential, basic and vital services” must not be disrupted.

These include agencies that directly deliver health services, public safety, and emergency response.

Recto emphasized that while these agencies are expected to observe energy-saving measures, such efforts must not compromise their operations.

“We do not cut ambulance service in the name of fuel economy. We do not restrict police response to crime in order to save on gas,” he said.

“Ang ganyang serbisyo ay hindi tinitipid (Services like these are not subject to cost-cutting),” he added.

Recto explained that the government’s broader push to reduce energy consumption is intended to redirect savings to agencies providing critical services.

“Kung tumataas ang presyo ng gasolina, we will put government service vehicles on a gas diet, so that ambulances, fire trucks, police patrol cars can continue running (If fuel prices rise, we will put government vehicles on a gas diet so ambulances, fire trucks, and police patrol cars can continue operating),” he said.

Under Memorandum Circular 114 issued by President Marcos on March 6, support and auxiliary offices—even within frontline agencies—are required to reduce their energy consumption by at least 20 percent.

Recto said the conservation measures cover regional and administrative offices.

“Kung regional office ka ng Bureau of Fire Protection, covered ka ng energy conservation protocols. But gasoline supply of firetrucks, for obvious reasons, is exempt from scrimping (If you are a regional office of the Bureau of Fire Protection, you are covered by energy conservation protocols, but the fuel supply of fire trucks is exempt),” he said.