Philippine Ports Authority adopts four-day workweek in Mindoro amid energy-saving push

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has rolled out a four-day compressed workweek at its Port Management Office in Mindoro, joining a broader government effort to curb energy use and improve workplace efficiency as fuel costs rise.

"Please be advised that the Philippine Ports Authority - Port Management Office of Mindoro (PPA PMO Mindoro) is adopting a Four-Day Compressed Work Week, in line with: 

1. Inter-Agency Energy Efficiency and Conservation Committee (lAEECC) on the strict observance of the Government Energy Management Program (GEMP) to promote energy efficiency in government operations; 

2. Civil Service Commission Memorandum Circular No. 6, s. 2022 re Policies on Flexible Work Arrangements in the Government; 

3. PPA Memorandum Order No. 007-2026 dated 06 March 2026; and 

4. PPA Memorandum Circular No. 006-2026 dated 12 March 2026. " the authority shared.

Under the new schedule, administrative offices of PPA-Mindoro will operate from Monday to Thursday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with no public transactions on Fridays. 

The agency clarified, however, that port operations, including vessel movements and security, will continue uninterrupted, maintaining 24/7 services critical to trade and transport.

Despite the shortened administrative week, PPA-Mindoro assured stakeholders that service standards would remain intact, urging clients to plan transactions accordingly. "We assure the public that service delivery standards will be maintained despite the compressed work schedule. Clients are encouraged to plan their transactions accordingly," the authority added.

The move aligns with directives from the Inter-Agency Energy Efficiency and Conservation Committee under the Government Energy Management Program, as well as guidelines issued by the Civil Service Commission allowing flexible work arrangements across public offices. It also follows internal issuances by the PPA earlier this year.

Officials said the shift is part of a wider policy direction under Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who in March ordered select executive branch offices to adopt a four-day workweek. The temporary measure was introduced to reduce electricity and fuel consumption amid a spike in global oil prices linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The policy reflects a growing trend across Philippine government agencies experimenting with flexible work models. While some departments have moved to hybrid or remote arrangements, the shift has also sparked debate in the private sector.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) has urged caution, warning that a blanket four-day workweek may not suit all industries, particularly manufacturing, where operational demands remain high. Business leaders have called for a more calibrated, data-driven approach to ensure productivity and economic stability are not compromised.

Still, the government maintains that the current measures are temporary and will remain in effect until lifted, as agencies continue to balance operational continuity with energy conservation and employee welfare.