Up to 412 companies in Central Visayas adopted flexible work schemed while the prices of oil kept going up from March until April 21, 2026, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said.
Among these flexible work arrangements included a four-day work week and a work-from-home scheme.
Most of the companies that adopted these arrangements are those engaged in manufacturing, administrative and support services, accommodation and food service, information and communication, and construction.
Among the factors that pushed the companies to adopt the schemes included financial losses, diminishing market, and lowering of demand from consumers, based on a report DOLE received.
From January 2026 until April 21, the number of companies in Central Visayas that adopted flexible work arrangements reached 856.
Meanwhile, as the weather becomes hotter, DOLE-7 and the Occupational Safety and Health Center have noted the health risks workers in the field may face. In Metro Cebu, authorities said on April 23, 2026 that the air quality has lowered yet again.
Earlier, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) said the haze that has settled over Metro Cebu since April 17, 2026 may have been caused by the following factors:
- In very hot weather, high-pressure systems often lead to stagnant air. Without strong winds or rain to "wash" the atmosphere, pollutants from vehicles and industry don't disperse and hover over the city, creating the hazy conditions obseved in Talisay City and Cebu City.
- Zero Dispersion: A total lack of wind means that smoke, vehicle emissions, and dust are not being blown away; instead, they are accumulating directly in the air people breathe.
- Localized Emissions from vehicles and road dust
- Other area sources, such as grass fires (SRP Area) and residential/commercial fires (Pahina Central)
