THE Commission on Civil Service (CSC) has issued a directive requiring all government offices to implement short and long-term programs to reduce their electricity and fuel consumption.
This was contained in a Memorandum Circular signed on September 19, 2024 by CSC chairperson Marilyn Yap and took effect starting December 11, 2024.
It amended the Policies on Flexible Work Arrangements in the Government embodied in CSC Resolution No 2200209 that was issued on May 18, 2022.
It included climate change, natural and man-made calamities, and the need to institutionalize energy efficiency and conservation as a way of life among the grounds for allowing alternative work arrangements.
The 2022 circular only cited COVID-19, traffic congestion, emergent information and communications technologies, and the changing conditions of the workforce as the basis for implementing flexible work systems in government agencies.
The new circular was addressed to all heads of departments, bureaus, constitutional bodies, local government units, government-owned or controlled corporations, and state universities and colleges.
It said the objective of the new policy is to “minimize and mitigate power demand, impact of high energy prices of petroleum products, reduce the consumption of both electricity and fuel, employ Government Energy Management Program (GEMP) methods/approaches.”
Government officials were reminded that they are expected to undertake steps to consistently improve their offices’ energy performance while ensuring that doing so will not adversely affect government functions and delivery of public services.
They were reminded of the requirement to periodically review the approved internal guidelines of their respective agencies in the implementation of the flexible working arrangements.
“All agencies, including those implementing flexible work arrangements, are encouraged to adopt low-cost Energy Efficiency and Conservation measures, provide employees with conducive workspaces, advocate for energy efficiency, utilize energy-efficient technology, and adopt fuel conservation practices,” the memorandum circular stated.
The latest expenses report released on December 2, 2024 by the Commission on Audit showed the government’s electricity expenses in 2023 hit P48.739 billion, which was P2.85 billion or 6.2 percent higher than its P45.889 billion power bill in 2022.
The 2023 Annual Financial Reports showed national government agencies spent P17.566 billion on electricity consumption in 2022 which increased to P19.593 billion in 2023.
On the other hand, local government units coughed up P20.263 billion in 2022 which rose to P21.498 billion in 2023.
Expenses posted by government corporations revealed their electricity bills went down from P8.06 billion in 2022 to P7.648 billion in 2023.
