Biliran provincial government reverts to 4-day workweek amid rising fuel, power costs

The provincial government of Biliran will revert to a four-day workweek starting Monday, July 13, just over a month after restoring the regular five-day workweek. Governor Rogelio Espina announced the decision, citing the instability of fuel prices and the looming increase in electricity rates across Eastern Visayas. The compressed workweek is intended to reduce fuel consumption by cutting employees’ commuting days while maintaining uninterrupted public service through longer daily office hours. Under Memorandum No. 0048-2026, signed on July 8, all provincial capitol offices will operate from Monday to Thursday, with office hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., allowing employees to complete the required 40-hour workweek. This directive reverses an order issued by Espina on June 1, which had restored the regular Monday-to-Friday, eight-hour work schedule after the provincial government had previously adopted a compressed workweek. Espina stated that the province decided to reinstate the four-day workweek in response to the national government’s call for energy conservation amid continued volatility in global oil prices due to the conflict in the Middle East and the expected increase in electricity rates in the region. On July 7, the Federation of Rural Electric Cooperatives in Region 8 (FRECOR-8) announced substantial increases in electricity rates due to higher transmission and generation charges. The Biliran Electric Cooperative (BILECO) is expected to post the biggest increase, with its residential rate rising from P15.11 per kilowatt-hour to P24.18 per kilowatt-hour. “In view of the continued unstable fuel prices and the projected rise in electricity rates in Region 8, the provincial government of Biliran shall re-implement the four-day workweek schedule to support energy conservation while ensuring efficient public services,” Espina said in a statement. “I would like to inform everyone that the offices of the Provincial Capitol will revert to office hours starting July 13, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Thursday,” he added. However, several offices providing essential services are exempt from the new work arrangement. These include the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), Biliran Provincial Hospital (BPH), and the Provincial Jail, which will continue operating on the regular Monday-to-Friday, eight-hour schedule. Job order personnel assigned to maintain the Provincial Capitol grounds are likewise exempt. Espina said some personnel in other provincial offices will also remain on the regular five-day workweek to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of essential government services. The governor also directed all provincial offices to intensify electricity conservation by limiting the use of air-conditioning units and using electric fans whenever practicable. Exceptions will be made for facilities requiring constant low temperatures, including cold storage units, certain sections of the provincial hospital, and offices housing temperature-sensitive equipment. The memorandum directs all department and office heads to ensure strict compliance with the four-day workweek and other energy-saving measures. The order will remain in effect until amended or revoked.