MMDA backs 4-day work week

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is throwing its support to the four-day work week scheme that will start tomorrow.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the agency would lend full support to the new work schedule approved by the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

He said the scheme would help ease traffic congestion in the metropolis and energy consumption.

“The scheme will be beneficial to the public as it will redound to lesser volume of commuters, pedestrians and volume of vehicles in our road networks,” Tolentino said.

Under the scheme, government offices in Metro Manila could voluntarily implement a four-day work schedule from Tuesday to Friday or Monday to Thursday. Employees would work from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., taking an hour off for their lunch break.

Government agencies that meet the criteria could implement the scheme for a one-year trial period, starting this month.

“Following the approval of the four-day work scheme, the MMDA will study the implementation of the scheme in the agency to ensure that it should be in compliance with the CSC rules and regulations,” said Tolentino.

He originally proposed a four-day working week at the MMDA-hosted Traffic Management Summit II in the National Capital Region last year.

The CSC issued a resolution on Sept. 8, giving government agencies “blanket approval” to implement the four-day work schedule.

The resolution was signed by CSC chairman Francisco Duque and Commissioners Robert Martinez and Nieves Osorio.

The new work schedule, the CSC said, was also aimed at “promoting work-life balance among employees” and boosting engagement, morale and productivity.

Agencies will monitor and evaluate employee performance, absenteeism, health and wellness, satisfaction and turnover rate as well as the agency’s electrical consumption and client satisfaction.

To qualify for the new schedule, a government office must have a one-stop shop and frontline services accessible through the Internet. It must also have a functioning call center or hotline system.

The new office hours of the participating agencies will be posted on the CSC website and on www.gov.ph.