DOE mulls 9-day work cycle

The Department of Energy (DOE) is looking at the possibility of introducing a nine-day work cycle as an alternative to the existing four-day work week program which will expire this month.

"We plan to float the idea. I’ve asked the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Civil Service Commission to look at the feasibility of a nine-day work cycle," Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla said.

Under the proposed new energy conservation scheme, government workers will get a day off on the second Friday of a two-week work cycle. The eight working hours of that second Friday when a worker gets his day off will now be spread over the nine working days under the two-week work cycle.

"Again government workers are able to deliver service over the same number of hours. But they get one day off on the second Friday," Lotilla explained.

Lotilla said the present four-day working days for government agencies may not be applicable when the school days resume by June.

"It should be studied as an alternative to the four-day work after the summer months no longer become feasible, because you already have school and working mothers," Lotilla said.

According to Lotilla the impact of the proposed new energy conservation scheme would be similar to that of the four-day work week.

So far, he said they have received good feedback on the shortened working day scheme.

"On a positive side, we have had positive comments from government. But whether it is feasible to continue with that also after the summer is being studied, particularly its impact on productivity. They have commissioned the Development Academy of the Philippines to be able to determine whether in fact it is on the whole a good program," Lotilla explained.

With world oil prices rising, the government has stepped up its energy conservation effort and is implementing a four-day work week for government agencies this summer.

Lotilla said the shortened workweek will be carried out starting April until end-May, when electricity consumption tends to rise, mainly due to increased use of air conditioners, electric fans and other cooling appliances and devices.

The shortened work hours, he said, would also translate to savings of at least 10 percent in electricity and fuel consumption by the government.

The Department of Energy alone, which has 600 employees, would save P166,400 on its electricity bills for the two-month duration of the program, he said.

As for fuel consumption, the DOE would save P81,000. The government agency spends P2.7 million on fuel expenses per year.

Lotilla said government agencies that render "vital frontline services" such as the police, hospitals, government-run banks and the Bureau of Customs are exempted from the program.

This might be a better option than the 4-day workweek productivity-wise. Working for only 4 days may seem to be favorable to government employees since they will have longer days to spend for their families and also a time to rest and unwind. But, considering 2 extra hours of work daily can be toxic too. That is if these employees are working fairly. Longer hours of work can be very exhausting. It could be more difficult to work the next day if you're too tired working today. However, if you're a healthy and energetic person 2 extra hours of work is not at all hard.

Anyway, what's really important is realizing the objective: energy conservation. As the government continues their austerity programs and by saving money from it, the public will be the ones to benefit from this scheme. I believe a portion from the generated revenue from austerity program since last year has contributed to the fund to be given to some 100,000 veterans waiting for their pensions.