DFA, MIAA, DOH adopt shorter workweek

MANILA, Philippines — Following the call of President Marcos for agencies to reduce operational costs amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of Consular Affairs nationwide will implement a four-day compressed workweek beginning on Monday, the DFA said.

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has also adopted the same workweek scheme, except for offices performing critical operational tasks: the airport police department, operations and compliance group, engineering services and medical services, which will operate on shifting schedules.

In a similar move, the Department of Health (DOH) said it has started implementing the onsite work schedule from Mondays to Thursdays, and a work-from-home set-up for most personnel on Fridays.

Selected DOH frontline offices – the regulation, licensing and enforcement division, health emergency management section and cashier section – will maintain a skeletal workforce on Fridays to ensure uninterrupted services.

MIAA general manager Eric Ines said the agency is exploring the integration of renewable energy sources into its infrastructure development plans, citing the recent installation of solar panels near the Our Lady of the Airways Parish.

“Henceforth, we shall pursue this direction. The long-term benefits of using solar panels in alleviating climate change far outweigh the significant investment that will be required initially,” Ines said. — Rudy Santos