THE Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) on Sunday said it will implement a 40-hour compressed workweek starting March 16, 2026, for its personnel, particularly its public lawyers, as part of the government’s energy conservation measures.
PAO Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta said, however, that the temporary work scheme will not cover personnel of the agency’s Executive Service, Administrative Service, Special and Appealed Cases Service, and Utility and Contract of Service, all at its central office in Quezon City.
“They shall continue to render five days of on-site work at their respective offices and observe regular working hours,” said Rueda-Acosta as she stressed that PAO is a frontline government agency that provides legal assistance to indigent and marginalized sectors of society.
She said the four-day on-site workweek will be observed at PAO’s regional and district offices, adopting the compressed 40-hour workweek arrangement provided in a Civil Service Commission circular.
Deputy Chief Ana Lisa Soriano told The Manila Times that the PAO chief’s memorandum circular directed public attorneys whose offices were declared closed by their respective local government units (LGUs) on Fridays to remain on call to render legal assistance, especially for inquest proceedings, custodial investigations, and posting of bail bond, among others.
“For PAO offices located in areas where LGUs have not declared office closures on Fridays, at least one PAO lawyer and one staff member shall render regular duty hours,” said Deputy Chief Erwin Erfe in a separate interview.
Also, Erfe said that all PAO personnel assigned to render duty on Fridays shall not report for work on Thursdays of the same week to maintain the four-day work schedule.
The chief public attorney said that PAO lawyers assigned at the Sandiganbayan would continue to observe the full five-day workweek, “considering that the Supreme Court has required the Sandiganbayan employees to observe the regular on-site workweek without special work arrangements.” “All PAO personnel are enjoined to remain on call beyond regular working hours within their respective jurisdictions and urgent legal needs of clients and inquest proceedings,” she added.
PAO said the order would remain in force until the Office of the President lifts the energy conservation directive through an issuance.
