Cebu City Hall goes on for 4-day workweek

Local

STARTING this week, Cebu City Hall will look a little different.

City government employees are now on a four-day workweek after Mayor Nestor Archival ordered the pilot implementation of a compressed schedule aimed at cutting energy use and improving efficiency.

Under an Executive Order, offices will operate from Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with a shorter, 30-minute lunch break.

The longer daily hours are meant to ensure that employees still complete the required number of working hours under Civil Service rules.

The arrangement, which took effect immediately after it was signed on March 30, will run on a trial basis from April 6 to April 17.

In the order, the city government cited the need to “ensure the efficient delivery of public services while promoting responsible utilization of government resources,” particularly energy consumption.

The policy aligns with Republic Act No. 11285, which encourages government offices to adopt energy-saving measures, including alternative work arrangements.

With offices closed an extra day each week, the city expects to reduce electricity use and related operating costs.

The four-day schedule covers all departments and offices under the Cebu City Government.

But not all services will slow down.

Essential and frontline operations, including hospitals, emergency response, police and fire services, traffic management, and sanitation, will continue under existing schedules or adopt shifting arrangements to avoid disruption.

Department heads have been instructed to ensure enough personnel are on duty at all times.

The new order also removes existing flexible work arrangements. All covered employees must now follow the fixed four-day schedule.

To guide the transition, the Human Resource Development Office, together with the Office of the City Administrator, will issue detailed guidelines on staffing, schedules, and service delivery.

The April 6 to 17 period will serve as a testing ground.

Offices have been directed to closely monitor electricity consumption and other operational data during the pilot. The findings will be used to determine whether the policy should be continued, adjusted, or discontinued.

Barangays and national government agencies in Cebu City have also been encouraged to consider adopting similar arrangements, subject to their own rules.(TGP)