Earlier this week, we reported that all local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila will have adjusted work hours from 7am to 4pm. This was supposed to take effect on Monday, April 15, but now the Metro Manila Council (MMC) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have announced that the adjusted work hours will begin on May 2, 2024.
The postponed implementation will give LGUs more time to prepare for the schedule change and disseminate the information to the public.
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“Napagkasunduan natin na yung inanunsiyo na magiging 7am–4pm work schedule sa mga LGUs dito sa Metro Manila ay sisimulan natin sa May 2 upang mabigyan ng sapat na panahon ang ating publiko na malaman na may ganitong pagbabago sa oras,” said MMC president Mayor Francis Zamora of San Juan in a press briefing on April 12. “Pati po sa LGUs, we can adjust easily dahil isang simpleng executive order lang ay malalaman na ng iba’t ibang departamento at kawani.”
In an interview with Radyo 630, MMDA acting chairman Atty. Romando Artes explained that LGUs may adopt their own schedules, as long as frontline services to the public follow the 7am–4pm timeframe.
“Pwede naman pong mag-adjust ang mga LGU, mga government agencies, kung anong suited sa kanila,” Artes said. “Meron pong nagsasabi na mas preferred nila yung four-day workweek, pero nakasentro po ito na 7am magsisimula po yung serbisyo publiko, [at] matatapos ng 4pm.”
The adjustment of LGU work hours is being implemented to help mitigate traffic congestion in Metro Manila, especially during morning and evening rush hour. Zamora said the change affects some 112,000 LGU employees: “Isipin niyo kung gaano kadaming tao at sasakyan yan na iiwas na sumabay sa ibang mga sasakyan tuwing rush hour.”
