Marcos: Palace studying 7 am-4 pm govt work hours in NCR

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PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday said the executive branch is studying the proposal of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to adopt an earlier work schedule for government offices to ease traffic congestion.

“Well, we’re studying (it). If it works, we’ll do it,” the President said in an interview during the launch of the Tesla Center in Taguig City.

Marcos said concerned sectors – from traffic enforcers and traffic administrators to commuters – will be consulted about the proposed 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. work schedule for government offices.

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Among others, he said the review will assess if the proposal will be practical for the commuting public.

“If it turns out that everyone agrees to it, then I cannot see why it will be a problem,” he added.

In making the proposal, the MMDA cited a survey conducted among local government units which showed that the earlier work schedule contributed to the easing of traffic flow in areas where it was implemented.

The agency said nearly two million employees are expected to avoid the surge of commuters during the usual peak of heavy traffic around 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. if its recommendation is implemented.

Former Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles recommended the implementation of a “digital superhighway” to address traffic congestion in the country, especially in urban areas.

Nograles said building more roads or expanding highways are not the only solution to traffic congestion, saying that

“a modern city should embrace modern work models. By promoting work-from-home and flexi-time arrangements, we reduce peak-hour congestion while improving work-life balance.”

When he was chairperson of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), he issued CSC Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 6, s. 2022, which provided guidelines and policies on Flexible Working Arrangements (FWAs) in government offices. In August 2024, the CSC introduced a hybrid work arrangement for its Central and Regional Offices across the country, consisting of four days onsite and one day remote each week while ensuring continuous delivery of external frontline services from Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Aside from physical roads and highways, Nograles also said investments should be poured in on digital infrastructure to support remote jobs and encourage businesses to adopt hybrid work setups.

In Davao City, Nograles says he plans to digitize government services “so you do not have to commute to city hall to get your permits.”

“If we reduce the number of people who need to commute daily, we ease congestion and improve productivity at the same time. Instead of simply widening roads, we need to rethink mobility by reducing the need to travel in the first place,” he added.

In the recent TomTom Traffic Index, Davao City emerged as the eighth most congested city worldwide, where residents take almost 33 minutes to travel 10 kilometers. It said 136 hours are lost at rush hours yearly in Davao.

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