5 hours ago
6
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
Neil Jayson Servallos - The Philippine Star
March 30, 2026 | 12:00am
Business groups have expressed openness to WFH arrangements, but stressed that not all enterprises can do this.
Philstar.com / Jovannie Lambayan, file
MANILA, Philippines — With pump prices continuing to rise, Sen. Erwin Tulfo is urging both the government and private sector to revive work-from-home (WFH) arrangements to help employees survive mounting transportation costs.
Business groups have expressed openness to WFH arrangements, but stressed that not all enterprises can do this.
Malacañang has said it would leave it up to private businesses to resort to such arrangements amid the national energy emergency.
Noting that remote setups were proven highly effective during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tulfo argued that the government should reinstate the program to ease the daily financial burden on the labor force.
“If a worker’s physical presence or activity is not required at the workplace, why not just have them report online?” Tulfo said.
“For instance, those in office roles like planning, research, admin, customer service, and other similar jobs can work from home,” he added.
The senator’s proposal comes as the escalating cost of fuel threatens to cripple public transportation, leaving commuters bearing the brunt of the crisis.
Tulfo pointed out that the ripple effects of the oil price hikes are already highly visible during rush hours.
“I’ve noticed that the number of stranded passengers on the streets seems to be increasing these days because fewer PUVs (public utility vehicles) are operating due to the high cost of fuel,” he noted.
Beyond corporate offices, Tulfo highlighted that other vital sectors successfully transitioned online during the pandemic, including education and health care, and could easily do so again.
“Even medical consultations and check-ups were done online by doctors during the pandemic. Why not do it again now?” he asked.
For industries where remote work is impossible – such as manufacturing, hospitality, food service and on-site health care – the lawmaker encouraged workers to adopt alternative commuting strategies to soften the blow to their daily budgets.
