Villanueva to DOLE: Fully implement telecommuting law in face of rising fuel costs

FILE PHOTO: Senator Joel Villanueva on Tuesday, December 7, 2021, during a Senate hearing. – Villanueva, who is seeking reelection in the May 9 polls, is calling for full implementation of Telecommuting Act, which was signed into law in December 2018. Villanueva is the principal author and sponsor of the law that allows an employee in the private sector to work “from an alternative workplace with the use of telecommunications and/or computer technologies.” (Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — As solution to soaring fuel costs is still nowhere in sight, Senator Joel Villanueva on Tuesday called for the full implementation of the Telecommuting Act which was signed into law more than three years ago.

The measure,  which was signed into law in December 2018, allows an employee in the private sector to work “from an alternative workplace with the use of telecommunications and/or computer technologies.”

“We call on the DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) to fully implement this law and give its own recommendation in the face of the rising costs of fuel and our continuing fight against the pandemic,” Villanueva, principal author and sponsor of the law, said in a statement.

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“It has been years since the passage of the Telecommuting Law, which is why DOLE’s response is important so that we can help our workforce against this new crisis,” he added.

The chairman of the Senate labor committee pointed out that based on studies, “productivity is almost equal or even greater with telecommuting.”

“Our economy is fueled by the hard work of our people, not just gasoline,” he stressed.

Villanueva issued the call as the prices of fuel continue to increase, even aggravated by the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

According to him, there is no assurance that the proposed review of the oil deregulation law could bring about “timely changes” to arrest the rising oil prices.

“We need to offer and push for alternatives to help our countrymen,” he said, “Let’s not insist on working on-site if this increases the demand for fuel. We have the Telecommuting or Work From Home Law that promotes alternative working arrangements for employers.”

“In connection to this, DepEd (Department of Education) and CHED (Commission on Higher Education) can think about blended online and face-to-face classes, since we are still in a pandemic and we have yet to reach a certain vaccination rate for children,” added Villanueva, who also heads the Senate committee on higher, technical and vocational education.

The senator likewise asked the government to immediately distribute the P5 billion fuel subsidies for public transportation and other sectors.

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