CIVIL Service Commission (CSC) chairperson Karlo Nograles believes rethinking the work hours and deployment of close to half a million government workers reporting to various public offices in Metro Manila can create a positive impact on traffic conditions in the metropolis.
The CSC chief also called on government agencies to look at ways to adopt policies on flexible working arrangements (FWAs) to support efforts of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) at addressing the vehicular gridlock in Metro Manila’s major roads.
Nograles noted that the FWA formulated in 2022 were established for a more adaptable and responsive work schemes for civil servants despite disruptive situations, including the worsening traffic situation.
“The National Capital Region has the largest number of government workers in the country, with 440,009 or 22.30 percent of career and non-career personnel. The prevailing traffic conditions in the metro not only hinder their mobility but also impact their productivity, particularly for those who commute daily. By adopting the FWA, we can not only enhance their efficiency but also safeguard their health, safety, and welfare,” he said.
Nograles proposed that a flexible work scheme be applied to promote efficient and effective performance of governmental functions, even as he stressed that heads of agencies must retain discretion over how to apply the FWA to ensure that stakeholders and clients are guaranteed of continuous delivery of services from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Atin pong siguruhin na hindi matitigil ang pagbibigay ng maayos, mabilis, at maaasahang serbisyo publiko buong linggo kahit na tayo ay may FWA, kasama ang pagpapatupad ng No Noon Break policy (Let us make sure that the FWA will not adversely affect the efficient, fast and reliable delivery of public service during the week, including the observance of the No Noon Break policy),” Nograles said.
Under Memorandum Circular No. 6, government agencies may choose to adopt any of the six FWAs to enable support mechanisms for government officials and employees.
Flexiplace is an output-oriented work arrangement that authorizes government officials or employees to render service at a location away from their office on a temporary basis duly approved by the head of office/agency. This arrangement includes work from home, work from satellite office, or work from another fixed place set-ups.
The compressed workweek is a work arrangement whereby the forty (40) hours workweek for five (5) days of the government officials or employees is compressed to four (4) days or less, as may be applicable, while skeleton workforce refers to a work arrangement where a minimum number of government officials or employees is required to staff the office to render service when full staffing is not possible.
Work shifting is a work arrangement applicable to offices/agencies mandated by law to operate 24-hour continuous service delivery on a daily basis, or to agencies required to observe workplace health and safety protocols.
