Biz groups commit to adopt flexible work setup amid Middle East conflict

Philippine business groups on Monday committed to adopting flexible work models while calling for targeted subsidies for marginalized transport groups, as the country continues to face a national energy emergency amid the ongoing armed conflict in the Middle East.

In a joint statement, local business groups said they would optimize logistics by adopting flexible work arrangements to reduce transportation fuel demand and invest in alternative energy solutions.

They also vowed to implement “aggressive” energy-saving measures across corporate and industrial facilities and to encourage their workforce to adopt sustainable energy practices both at work and at home.

The statement was released by the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FFCCCII), the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI), the Makati Business Club (MBC), the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

The government, starting March 9, has already adopted a four-day onsite work arrangement through a compressed workweek or a designated common day for work-from-home setups.

The business groups also urged the national government to explore collaborative measures, including direct support for transport groups such as jeepney and bus operators, to cushion the impact of rising fuel costs without triggering fare increases.

“We recognize that volatile global oil prices pose serious threats to our nation’s economic stability and the welfare of our people,” the statement read.

They also recommended that the government procure oil from non-traditional partners such as Russia, Indonesia, and India; maintain stable interest rates and reduce non-fuel costs; and promote local industries and Philippine-made products to protect jobs.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared a state of national energy emergency and ordered the adoption of a Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) to ensure energy supply stability and support key sectors such as transport, agriculture, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Malacañang, citing Department of Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, has maintained that there is no oil supply crisis, but rather a price disruption due to developments in the Middle East.—MCG, GMA Integrated News