IMPLEMENTATION OF 7AM-4PM ADJUSTED WORK SCHEDULE FOR METRO MANILA LGUs MOVED TO MAY 2

THE Metro Manila Council has agreed to defer the implementation of the 7am to 4pm new work schedule for the local government units of Metro Manila to May 2, instead of April 15, to give more time to prepare for the transition of the adjusted work hours.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Acting Chairman attorney Don Artes said that the new work schedule is expected to have a positive impact on the traffic flow in the metropolis.

“With only 22% of the total 645,000 permanent government employees in NCR, peak hours will be spread out. There is also a huge impact in public utility vehicles ridership with almost half a million government employees commuting. From our observation 4pm is off-peak hours in terms of ridership, the employees can easily go home while those in the private sector can expect decongested public transportation,” Artes said.

San Juan City Mayor and MMC president Francis Zamora, for his part, said that each of the LGUs can develop their own respective flexible work arrangements that are feasible to their LGUs to ensure unhampered delivery of services.

Meanwhile, offices and departments offering frontline services will not be subject to the adjusted working hours.

“There are many services that the LGUs are offering – predominantly are office-based while some are on-the-ground. But in general, time of transaction in usual offices will be from 7am to 4pm but the LGUs must ensure that all clients will be accommodated even until 5pm,” he said.

Artes also said that the MMDA will also be implementing the 7am to 4pm work schedule for the agency, with the exception of its frontline personnel such as traffic enforcers and road emergency group.

He also relayed that other national government agencies located in Metro Manila were asked by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to submit suitable alternative work arrangement proposals in line with the 7am-4pm schedule to lessen rush hour traffic.

“All the mayors agreed that each one of us will have our own observations and recommendations after a month of the implementation of the new work schedule and will present the results to Malacanang,” he said.

Further, Artes emphasized that there will be no adjustment in number coding hours in light of the adjusted work hours for the local government units.

“There is no need to change the number coding scheme. In fact, it will be more beneficial to government employees since they will not be affected, given that the policy will be in effect within the adjusted working hours,” he explained.

The MMDA’s number coding scheme is implemented from 7am to 10am and 5pm to 8pm on weekdays, except weekends and holidays.