DepEd shifts to four-day workweek

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March 10, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines —  Beginning this week, personnel of the Department of Education (DepEd) will report to their offices from Monday to Thursday and work from home on Fridays as part of the government’s energy-saving measures.

In a statement yesterday, DepEd said Memorandum 18, s. 2026 outlines the new protocols aimed at reducing electricity and fuel consumption by 10 to 20 percent while allowing flexible work arrangements.

“Starting March 9, 2026 and until lifted by Malacañang, DepEd will adopt a four-day onsite work arrangement from Monday to Thursday, designating Friday as the common work-from-home day for all covered non-teaching and related teaching personnel,” the department said.

Teaching personnel, however, will continue with their existing class schedules to ensure uninterrupted classes and the completion of end-of-school-year activities.

To maintain productivity, personnel working from home are required to submit daily time records, individual daily logs and accomplishment reports.

“DepEd is fully committed to doing its part in reducing energy consumption across government operations while ensuring that our schools and offices continue to serve the public effectively,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

Hospital-based services

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), meanwhile, assured members yesterday that all frontline and hospital-based services will continue operating on a regular five-day schedule, even as the agency implements flexible work arrangements for select personnel.

Frontline offices and critical operational units will maintain their full-week Monday-to-Friday schedule to ensure uninterrupted service to members.

Administrative and back-office personnel, meanwhile, will observe a compressed onsite schedule from Monday to Thursday with a 10-hour workday, but will remain reachable on Fridays for urgent operational needs and member concerns.

PhilHealth said the following services will remain fully operational throughout the week: PhilHealth CARES nurses and P-Malasakit staff deployed in hospitals; local health insurance offices, PhilHealth business centers, satellite offices and hospital desks; claims processing (benefit administration section) and information technology and legal and field operations.

Improving service delivery

Efforts to streamline government operations were also discussed at a recent meeting convened by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto with Cabinet secretaries of key frontline agencies.

According to the Office of the Executive Secretary, the meeting held on March 6 focused on strengthening coordination among agencies to ensure the delivery of faster, better and more responsive public services for Filipinos.

“The meeting focused on addressing the urgent needs of Filipinos and ensuring that government programs align with the long-term vision of AmBisyon Natin 2040, a future where every Filipino enjoys a strongly rooted, comfortable and secure life,” the office said in a Facebook post.

The meeting also tackled concerns affecting overseas Filipino workers and public utility vehicles amid the Middle East crisis and rising oil prices in the world market. –  Aubrey Rose Inosante, Alexis Romero, Rhodina Villanueva, Rainier Allan Ronda