Amid the rising prices in petroleum products driven by the escalating tensions in the Middle East, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the largest business organization in the country, supports the move of the government to conserve and save energy by adopting a four-day workweek measures.
However, PCCI stressed that such arrangement is only feasible to certain industry sectors.
For manufacturing and other industries with continuous and specific operational requirements, this set-up may not be practical. Factories with backlogs cannot simply stop production as it may disrupt delivery of commitments. However, some companies are already implementing compressed workweek where employees complete the standard 40 hours a week or 10 hours per day for four days, ensuring they continue to receive full pay while maintaining productivity and shifting.
The PCCI also recognizes benefit of a four-day work week especially to commuting public. Employees working for four days instead of five could save roughly 20 percent on transportation cost. Similarly, those who drive to work would benefit from reduced fuel consumption, parking fees and other travel-related expenses.
With fuel increases expected to impact logistics costs and consumer products in the coming weeks and months, the PCCI urges Congress to grant President Marcos emergency powers to cushion the impact of price hikes on Filipino households and businesses. The PCCI also expressed its support to any government measures – whether reducing excise tax, VAT, or other funding sources.
The private sector has already initiated conservation efforts, including carpooling, work-from-home arrangements, adjusting air-conditioning settings for efficiency, and investing in renewable energy such as solar. These measures, combined with bulk purchasing and industry coordination, reflect our commitment to reducing fuel and energy consumption.
