Work sked back to normal at Capitol

Local

WORK schedules returned to normal across Cebu’s provincial offices as the government ended its compressed arrangement and restored full weekday operations starting Monday, May 4.

The Provincial Government of Cebu lifted the four-day work week under Executive Order No. 27, Series of 2026, signed by Governor Pamela Baricuatro on April 30.

This effectively dissolved the earlier policy under Executive Order No. 16 that introduced a shortened work schedule due to energy concerns and efficiency measures.

With the new order, all provincial departments, offices, and units now operate under a regular five-day work week from Monday to Friday, complying with Civil Service Commission rules and the standard 40-hour weekly requirement.

Offices have also resumed standard working hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., marking a full return to pre-compressed schedule operations.

In an interview, Provincial Administrator Atty. Ace Durano said fuel costs and feedback from departments factored into the decision to revert to the old schedule.

“Well one consideration gud is that ninaog naman ang cost sa fuel,” Durano said.

He added that offices had been pushing for the return to regular operations.

“Last week there was really a request from the different departments nga mobalik na sa normal na work schedule,” he said.

Durano said the earlier four-day workweek, which required longer working hours from Monday to Thursday, was intended to reduce electricity consumption and improve operational efficiency during a period of high energy costs.

However, he noted that changing conditions and operational demands prompted the province to restore the five-day setup.

Despite the shift, Durano said energy-saving measures introduced during the four-day workweek will remain in place.

“Ang aircons have to be set not lower than 23… kay mao gyuy pinakadako gyud og kaon ang aircon,” he said, emphasizing the need to regulate air-conditioning use in government offices.

He also noted that official travel will continue to be regulated.

“Only essential travels gyud,” Durano said, adding that departments have been advised to limit trips to critical and necessary activities.

Durano said the province has yet to determine the total savings generated during the compressed workweek.

"Wala pa gyud na ma-quantify nato og pila na-save,” he said.

The Executive Order (EO) stated that the compressed work arrangement was only a temporary response to operational and sustainability challenges, and that improved conditions now allow the provincial government to resume full operations.

It also emphasizes the need to strengthen coordination among offices and enhance frontline service delivery with employees present throughout the workweek.

At the same time, the order directs all offices to continue implementing energy efficiency and conservation measures introduced under EO 16, in line with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act.

The provincial government said the transition aims to strike a balance between efficient public service, administrative coordination, and sustained environmental responsibility even as normal operations resume.(MyTVCebu)