La Union city starts four-day workweek

SAN FERNANDO, La Union– The city government has started a four-day workweek to cut power consumption this dry season.

In an executive order, City Mayor Pablo Ortega required the city government’s 500 employees to report for duty from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Thursday, from April 1 to May 31.

Air-conditioning units will be turned on from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. only.

“Considering the need to respond to the call to adopt measures to mitigate the ill-effects of climate change, especially the El Niño phenomenon, the city government decided to adopt the four-day workweek for the months of April and May,” Ortega said.

Ortega said the city government saved on electricity and other operational costs when a four-day workweek was carried out last year.

Exempted from the new schedule are government personnel in front-line services such as those in the health office.

On March 28, 2005, President Arroyo signed Administrative Order 117 directing all government offices under the executive branch and government-owned and controlled corporations, except those performing front-line services, to implement a four-day workweek for the months of April and May to cut operational costs.

Local government units were encouraged to comply with the scheme. -- JE