With traffic getting worse and fuel costs rising, Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas has urged colleagues to speed up final approval of a proposed law giving employees the option of “telecommuting employment” or working from home.
A consolidated bill was passed on second reading in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. Vargas pointed out that a similar measure in the Senate, authored by Senators Joel Villanueva and Cynthia Villar, was already approved on final reading in May 2017.
Vargas, a member of the House committee on transportation, said telecommuting would benefit both employees and employers reeling from worsening traffic conditions and rising fuel prices.
“[Telecommuting] improves organization retention, employee performance and customer satisfaction. It also leads to better health for employees as telecommuting lessens their exposure to pollution,” he added.
Other advantages, Vargas said, include a boost in employee morale, reduced work-related stress, and increased productivity.
Telecommuting also reduces a company’s need to spend for office space, he added.
Based on a study conducted by Japan International Coordination Agency, the Philippines was losing about P2.4 billion daily due to traffic.