Work from home law to ease traffic woes – Palace

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang is optimistic that the work from home law will help ease vehicular traffic congestion in Metro Manila and other urban areas.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Republic Act 11165 or the Telecommuting Act signed into law on December 20 was the government’s response to different work environments.

READ: Work from home is now a law

“We laud our lawmakers for the timely passage of RA No. 11165 since telecommuting as a work arrangement is fast becoming the new norm with the Filipino labor market starting to open up with alternative avenues in view of computer technologies,” Panelo said in a statement on Friday.

“With its full implementation, we are optimistic that this arrangement can also contribute in easing the traffic conditions in Metro Manila and in other urban areas,” he added.

“This landmark piece of legislation, he said would “give fair treatment to telecommuting employees in the private sector who can now work from home or any place outside the employers’ premises, and still be given the same treatment and entitlements as those employees physically working at the offices.”

“[Duterte’s] signing of the Telecommuting Act is indeed a recognition of an emerging and innovative Filipino workforce,” he said./gsg