No four-day workweek in Cebu City just yet

Local

CEBU City Hall may extend daily office hours into the evening if it eventually adopts a four-day workweek.

Mayor Nestor Archival said the local government is still studying the policy and has not yet decided whether to implement it.

In a press conference on Monday, March 9, Archival said the city government will continue operating under the regular five-day schedule for now as officials assess the possible effects of shifting to a compressed workweek.

“Sa pagkakaron… now until Friday, dili una ta magpatuman ana,” Archival said.

The mayor said he had already consulted some members of the business sector, including representatives from the local chamber, and noted that many were not fully supportive of the proposal.

“I was able to talk to some chamber members and daghan nila nga murag dili kaayo ganahan nga mga four-day ta,” he said.

Still, Archival said discussions are ongoing within City Hall. He met with department heads earlier Monday to gather suggestions on how the city government might implement such an arrangement if it proceeds.

One option being considered is a compressed schedule where employees would work longer hours from Monday to Thursday.

“Considering nga four-day ta, the possibility ana we start 8 in the morning, and we end at certain time sa gabie,” he said.

Archival stressed, however, that certain offices that deliver essential services would likely remain on a regular schedule even if the city adopts a shortened workweek.

“If Friday wala ta, there are some offices nga importante nga siguro if mupadayon ta sa four-day, naa gihapon ni sila,” he added.

For now, the mayor said the city government prefers to observe how other local governments implement the arrangement before making a final decision.

“Again, we cannot decide right now unsay buhaton sa City of Cebu, but we are monitoring sa uban nga provinces and cities unsay effect aning four-day work,” Archival said.

While Cebu City is still evaluating the policy, the Cebu Provincial Government has decided to move forward with a compressed four-day workweek.

Gov. Pamela Baricuatro signed Executive Order No. 16 on Monday, implementing a Monday-to-Thursday work schedule for provincial employees from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.(TGP)