DepEd to shift to 4-day on-site workweek to conserve energy

The Department of Education (DepEd) will implement a four-day workweek for its school-based personnel starting Friday, April 10, 2026 as part of its energy conservation efforts amid oil price hikes driven by the conflict in the Middle East.

In a memorandum released on Thursday, DepEd said school-based non-teaching and related teaching personnel will follow a work-from-home (WFH) setup on Fridays, from April 10 to June 5, 2026.

"School heads shall ensure that the implementation of WFH arrangement does not disrupt essential school operations and that appropriate staffing arrangements are in place, as necessary,” DepED said.

The agency had also allowed private schools to shift to blended learning to help manage rising electricity costs during the national energy emergency.

In a memorandum dated April 7, 2026 the Education Department clarified that private schools may either continue with five days of in-person classes or adopt blended learning arrangements.

The Commission on Higher Education also released guidelines for higher education institutions on the implementation of learning modalities, as it gave the go-signal for universities and colleges to shift to full online classes for the rest of the academic year.

“During the national energy emergency, HEls may adopt up to 100% online delivery as necessary and as a temporary arrangement, subject to institutional capacity and student readiness and notification to the CHEDRO (CHED Regional Office) concerned,” the commission said.

“Such temporary arrangements shall not be construed as authority to operate undergraduate and graduate programs through Open Distance and e-Learning,” it added.

It said the advisory remains effective until the end of AY 2025–2026 (including summer classes). A new advisory will be issued before the start of AY 2026–2027.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier declared a state of national energy emergency, as prices of petroleum products are expected to further increase due to the Middle East conflict.

He also announced that starting March 9, 2026, a four-day workweek will be temporarily implemented in offices under the executive department.

The President also directed all agencies and instrumentalities of the national government, including GOCCs, to reduce their electricity and fuel consumption by 10% to 20%. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BAP, GMA News