Duterte's decision on 4-day workweek proposal known Monday –Palace

President Rodrigo Duterte is set to reveal on Monday his decision on the recommendation of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to reduce the workweek into four days to conserve energy, Malacañang said Thursday.

Asked in a Dobol B TV interview on when will the public know whether Duterte approves or disapproves of the proposal, acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said, “Malalaman po natin ito ngayong darating na Lunes [we will find out this coming Monday].”

Andanar made the remark following the proposal of NEDA chief and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua for the government to impose a four-day workweek to conserve energy and alleviate the public’s expenses amid the series of big time oil price hikes.

“Ito’y suggestion para maibsan ‘yung posibleng negative effects or ‘yung talagang ano na ito eh, hindi na maiiwasan na negative effect na pagtaas ng presyo ng krudo,” Andanar said

(This is a suggestion to alleviate the possible negative effects or the inevitable negative effect of rising crude oil prices.)

Oil firms this week implemented another major price hike, marking the 11th straight week of increases with domestic pump prices already hitting P84.55 per liter in select areas across the country.

Andanar said the government tends to follow the recommendations of the economic sector as they are the experts in the field.

“Pero ang mahalaga ho ay sinabi naman ni Presidente Duterte kay [Finance] Secretary Sonny Dominguez after the Secretary of Finance gave his recommendation na that is our policy. Kung ano ‘yung magiging desisyon ng ating economic cluster dahil ayun naman ang kanilang forte, ayun ang polisya ng ating gobyerno,” he said.

(The important thing is that President Duterte told Secretary Sonny Dominguez after the Secretary of Finance gave his recommendation that that is our policy, whatever the decision of our economic cluster will be.)

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Wednesday that employers may implement such shortened workweek even without a new law or a department order providing for the measure. —KBK, GMA News