Revised work schedules set for S. Kudarat, Cotabato employees
KORONADAL CITY – Government employees in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato may either opt for a four-day onsite work arrangement (compressed workweek) or a five-day work week but with a designated one-day work-from-home setup in line with the efforts to conserve energy amid rising fuel prices due to the Middle East conflict.
Governors Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu and Emmylou Taliño Mendoza of Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato, respectively, separately announced the new work scheme on government offices, set to take effect on Monday, March 9.
Mangudadatu issued Executive Order 111, Series of 2026 on Saturday adopting Memorandum Circular 114 issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to conserve energy.
He urged local government units in the provinces to also adopt and implement energy conservation measures consistent with their local policies and capacities.
“To reduce building energy load and transport fuel use, provincial agencies shall adopt a four-day onsite work arrangement or a designated common day for work-from-home options,” the governor stated in the order.
Mangudadatu also limited all official travels to essential functions only, “with travel justified by urgency, necessity, or direct programmatic relevance,” and to resort to virtual meetings as the default mode for inter-agency coordination, to save on fuel costs.
He noted the province’s energy conservation measures are aimed at reducing actual electricity and fuel consumption by 10 to 20 percent.
Mangudadatu said that provincial workers engaged in health, public safety and emergency preparedness and response services are not covered by the new work scheme.
The order will remain in effect unless revoked, said Mangudadatu, adding that the interim measures will be reviewed periodically.
In Cotabato, Governor Emmylou Taliño Mendoza said the new work arrangements involving workers under the provincial government would take effect also on Monday.
She appealed to all residents in the province to also do their share in the conservation of fuel and electricity supplies in the area.
“Through discipline, cooperation and responsible use of resources, we can maintain stability in our communities despite the challenges,” she said in Filipino.
As of 2 p.m. Sunday, only Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato provinces have publicly announced the adoption of Marcos’ Memorandum Circular 114 in Region 12 or Soccsksargen, which also straddles South Cotabato and Sarangani provinces.
The latest conflict in the Middle East erupted on February 28 after the United States and Israel launched aerial attacks against Iran, which retaliated by also firing missiles on Israel and countries hosting American forces. /gsg
