MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has adopted a new work setup as part of government efforts to promote prudent spending.
“In line with Office of the President Memorandum Circular No. 114 dated March 6, 2026, the House of Representatives shall adopt the following modified work arrangements and guidelines to streamline operations, reduce non-essential expenditures, and optimize the use of public resources,” a memorandum dated March 12 said.
The new setup includes a hybrid work arrangement. During session periods, personnel must report on-site from Monday to Wednesday and work from home (WFH) on Thursdays. When the House is on break, personnel must report on-site every Tuesday and Wednesday and work from home every Monday and Thursday.
Under the arrangement, offices were ordered to ensure that the delivery of public service remains uninterrupted by providing their contact details. These, particularly on WFH days, should be made public through the House website and Viber groups. Certain House units are also required to maintain a skeletal workforce on WFH days.
The memorandum also tightens controls on official travel.
Among the energy conservation measures is a rule that air-conditioning units may only be switched on at 8 a.m. and must be turned off at 6 p.m., except in essential areas such as the plenary hall during session days. The initiative also calls for stricter protocols on computer use to help save energy.
The policy also includes a suspension of requests for official vehicles.