MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has released guidelines for its adoption of the four-day workweek set-up ordered by Malacañang to save costs amid fuel price increases driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The guidelines were issued through Circular No. 2026-005 dated March 6.
A copy of the guidelines sent to the Inquirer showed that the set-up would cover the department’s central, regional and field offices.
READ: DILG to LGUs, agencies: Cut costs amid Mideast fuel price hike
“However, offices providing essential, basic, and vital services, including those responsible for health, public safety, and emergency preparedness and response, shall remain fully operational at all times,” the circular explained.
It added that these offices shall ensure uninterrupted delivery of critical functions and shall implement energy conservation protocols in a manner that does not impede or compromise their mandated services.
The guidelines also said the employees concerned are expected to render hours of work on site from Monday to Thursday.
A “flexitime” arrangement would be implemented between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.; and 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. — as long as the employee renders 10 hours of work per day.
The guidelines also noted that any employee clocking in after 8 a.m. will be considered late.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday were described as employees’ rest days.
Working overtime would not be allowed from Monday to Thursday; and would only be allowed on Fridays or Saturdays, if approved beforehand by the Central Office’s operations chief or the respective directors of the regional and field offices.
Outlined by Memorandum Circular No. 114 series of 2026 issued last Friday, the directive singled out health, public safety and emergency preparedness and response agencies from the set-up, ordering them to conserve power without interrupting services.
Remulla previously said his department will order all its offices, attached agencies and local government units to cut operational costs amid the fuel price increases.
He noted that the cost-cutting measures would address “wastage” brought particularly by seminars and hotel rentals.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP), an agency under the DILG, earlier said its services would be uninterrupted despite the four-day workweek. /dp