The Negros Oriental provincial government has reimplemented a four-day compressed workweek as a temporary energy conservation and cost-saving measure amid renewed increases in fuel prices and continuing energy cost volatility.
Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria issued Executive Order No. 58, Series of 2026, which took effect Monday, Sept. 28.
Under the arrangement, covered provincial government employees will report onsite from Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break from noon to 1 p.m.
Employees will work 10 hours a day to complete the required 40-hour workweek, while Friday will generally be designated as a non-working day subject to service requirements.
Job order and contract of service personnel will follow the same compressed schedule without reduction in compensation equivalent to five days of work, subject to applicable government rules and the terms of their engagement.
The order does not automatically entitle employees to overtime or compensatory time off for work beyond the approved schedule.
Provincial hospitals and health facilities, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, crisis response, emergency, security and custodial units are exempted and will continue following their regular schedules.
Other offices may also be exempted by the governor when necessary to maintain government services.
The order also directs provincial offices to reduce energy consumption through prudent use of air-conditioning, lighting, computers and other equipment, and to conduct virtual meetings when appropriate.
Official travel should also be limited, trips consolidated and routes optimized, while offices are directed to minimize vehicle idling and monitor electricity and fuel consumption.
The provincial government previously implemented a four-day compressed workweek under Executive Order No. 28 before the regular Monday-to-Friday schedule was restored through Executive Order.
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