The government of Philippines has announced a temporary shift to a four day work week in response to rising fuel prices triggered by tensions in the Middle East. The decision was announced on Friday by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr as part of measures aimed at reducing the economic impact of the ongoing conflict involving Iran Israel and the United States.
According to the president the new work arrangement will begin on Monday and will apply to government offices across the country. The policy is designed to reduce fuel consumption and help cushion the impact of expected increases in energy prices.
Marcos explained that the situation could worsen if the Strait of Hormuz becomes inaccessible as the waterway handles about one fifth of the global oil supply. Any disruption to this route could significantly increase oil prices worldwide and affect countries that depend heavily on imported fuel.
The president warned that local fuel prices in the Philippines may rise sharply in the coming days. Estimates suggest gasoline could increase by about 7.48 pesos per litre while sel could rise by around 17.28 pesos per litre. Kerosene prices could also climb by about 32.35 pesos per litre due to the ongoing crisis.
The Philippines imports most of its crude oil from the Middle East and continues to rely on oil fired power plants for electricity generation. As a result the country remains highly vulnerable to disruptions in global oil supply.
In addition to the shortened work week the president directed government agencies to reduce their fuel and electricity consumption by between 10 percent and 20 percent. Government study tours team building activities and meetings that can be held online have also been suspended.
The government is also considering fuel subsis and financial support for affected sectors. Meanwhile frontline services including police and emergency responders will continue operating under normal schedules.
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