City Hall 4-day workweek extended to April 30

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government has formally extended its compressed four?day workweek until April 30, 2026, through a memorandum issued by the Human Resource Development Office (HRDO).

The arrangement, first introduced last April 6 under Mayor Nestor Archival’s Executive Order No. 069, requires employees to work Monday to Thursday from 8 A.M. to 6:30 P.M., completing the mandated 40 hours weekly.

It was adopted in line with national directives encouraging energy conservation amid rising global fuel prices, and early assessments have already shown measurable results.

The HRDO memorandum, numbered HR?2026?042 and dated April 20, 2026, spelled out the details of the extension.

It directed all Cebu City government officials, employees, and personnel to continue observing the compressed schedule until April 30.

Personnel are expected to render a minimum of 40 hours per week, exclusive of lunch breaks, and that timekeeping through biometrics or other prescribed modes remains mandatory, including the noon log at 12 P.M. to 12:30 P.M.

The memo also imposed a strict prohibition on requests for overtime pay or compensatory overtime credits during the implementation.

To reinforce energy conservation, it required that air conditioning units be switched on only at 9 A.M. and turned off one hour before the end of the shift, at 5:30 P.M.

Mayor Archival, in his latest press conference, said the two?week pilot demonstrated clear reductions in electricity and water consumption, which he described as the most significant impact of the schedule.

“Ang pinakadako nga epekto is ang atong water and energy consumption. Nanaog ang water and electricity cost. I’m sure the fuel allocation nanaog pud na, but the real quantity akong ihatag later,” he explained, noting that fuel allocations are also expected to have decreased.

He emphasized that the city government is now studying the broader effects of the arrangement, including its impact on service delivery and public accessibility.

Archival also encouraged feedback from residents, saying he wants to know “unsay epekto sa atong four?day work week.”

The city’s final assessment will combine utility savings data with citizen input to determine whether the policy should be institutionalized beyond April.

While City Hall observes the compressed schedule, residents are not left without access to government services.

To ensure uninterrupted transactions, Cebu City recently inaugurated the 24/7 Government Service Hub at Cebu Exchange Tower in Lahug, part of the “Mayor of the Night” program.

The facility was designed to serve residents who cannot transact during regular office hours, particularly BPO employees, night?shift workers, and those with demanding schedules. — (FREEMAN)