The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assured the public that its programs and services will continue uninterrupted despite the implementation of a four-day compressed workweek across government agencies under a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The Office of the President on March 6 issued Memorandum Circular 114, directing government agencies to adopt energy conservation measures, including flexible work arrangements.
“The President approved flexible work arrangements for government agencies, including the DSWD. You can be assured that the programs and services of our department will not be delayed,” DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao said Monday.
In line with the directive, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian issued a memorandum ordering the implementation of a compressed workweek in the agency’s central and field offices nationwide.
“To effectively comply with these national conservation mandates while ensuring uninterrupted delivery of our social protection services, the DSWD Central Office and Field Offices, including satellite offices, are directed to adopt the CWW (compressed workweek) arrangement,” Gatchalian said in the memo.
Under CWW, the standard 40-hour workweek will be compressed into four days, requiring personnel to render 10 hours of work per day.
The DSWD said several frontline services will remain operational five days a week to ensure uninterrupted assistance.
These include the Disaster Response Command Center, Crisis Intervention Program units, the Pag-Abot Program, processing for Minors Traveling Abroad clearances, the Walang Gutom Program and Walang Gutom Kitchen, as well as DSWD centers and residential care facilities.
Staff under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) at the provincial, city, and municipal levels are also exempted from the four-day workweek.
In the event of disasters, personnel from the Disaster Response Management Group will remain on standby for onsite operations.
“All offices providing urgent assistance will remain open five days a week,” Dumlao said.
She noted that services such as disaster monitoring, Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations processing, outreach to families in street situations, and minors traveling abroad clearances will continue without disruption.
