Lacson favors 4-day work week to save on fuel

Senator Panfilo Lacson talks to the media during a press conference in Cauayan, Isabela on Monday, Mar. 14, 2022. Photo from Lacson-Sotto media bureau

MADDELA, Quirino — Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday expressed support for the proposed four-day work week to enable employees to save on a day’s worth of fuel every week.

“Meron ding proposal na four-day work week. Yun maganda yun kasi at least matitipid na yung gasolina at least yung Friday,” Lacson said in a press conference here.

(There’s also a proposed four-day work week. That’s a good idea at least they can save on fuel cost at least during Fridays.)

Earlier, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua offered limiting the work week to just four days as among the measures to cope with the soaring fuel prices.

Chua explained that the usual eight-hour daily work could shift to 10 hours daily but only for four days instead of five.

While employees will have to work longer hours, they will get another day off to spend with their families, according to Lacson.

“Sa ‘kin I’ll support that na mag-four-day work week na lang para matipid na yung gamit ng fuel ng at least isang araw every week,” the presidential candidate said.

(For me, I’ll support a four-day work week so they can save on fuel at least one day every week.)

Aside from the four-day work week, Chua added that instead of increasing the minimum wage and the minimum fare in public vehicles to cushion the impact of high oil prices, the government can provide relief through unconditional cash transfers.

Lacson recognized the challenge that comes with deciding whether to increase the fare, saying it should be data driven.

Nevertheless, the senator stressed the need to consider the plight of public utility drivers.

“Tignan din yung plight ng mga drivers natin sa transport sector, magbigay ng subsidy at the same time kasi di ba narinig natin maski walang fare hike, naniningil sila ng sobra, nagba-violate na sila ng batas dahil di nila kakayanin kasi ang taas ng fuel, alangan namang sila nag mag-shoulder,” Lacson said.

(We should also consider the plight of our drivers in our transport sector, give them subsidies at the same time because we’ve heard of some incidents of drivers overcharging, they’re violating the law by doing this because they can’t afford the high price of fuel, they can’t shoulder it.)

/MUF