Palace revives ‘flexi-time’ proposal to ease traffic woes

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella. ALFRED FRIAS/Presidential Photo

As a way to cope with Metro Manila’s traffic situation, Malacañang is considering allowing government workers in the capital to have flexible working hours.

Similar schemes were proposed in 2014 and 2011 during the Aquino administration.

In a statement on Wednesday, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the “government is looking for practical solutions to ease the traffic situation in Metro Manila” and that having “flexi-time” in the public sector was one measure being studied.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) had started looking into the feasibility of the idea and would give its recommendation soon, Abella said.

The Duterte administration earlier proposed granting emergency powers to the President to allow him to take bold, immediate action to solve what it called the “traffic crisis.”

In December last year, a Senate bill granting such powers was endorsed to the plenary by Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the committee on public services. A counterpart bill is pending in the House.

In 2014, a two-day summit organized by the MMDA gave rise to proposals for a four-day work week and a flexi-time scheme for workers, in anticipation of the road congestion caused by the simultaneous construction of 15 major road projects at the time.

In 2011, Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo filed a bill recommending a “10/4” work week (10-hour shifts for four days).—LEILA B. SALAVERRIA