By Leonardo Micua
Aside from ordering a four-day work week for Dagupan city government workers, Mayor Belen Fernandez issued an executive order No. 6, Series of 202 streamlining and regulating government expenditures and energy consumption in all officers of the city government, in support of the national government energy conservation and fiscal prudence initiatives as the crisis in the Middle East intensified.
Under the four-day work week announced during the flag-raising ceremony last March 9 by City Legal Officer Aurora Valle, city government employees must report to the office from Monday to Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily with no noon-day break.
Exceptions are employees of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Â Public Order and Safety Office, Public Alert Response and Monitoring Center, City Waste Management Division, City Market Division and other offices whose services are considered essential in the daily operations of Dagupan City
E.O No. 6, Series of 2026 stipulates that the use of air conditioning units in all offices of the City Government shall be strictly limited from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. only during regular working days. Offices are encouraged to utilize natural ventilation whenever possible.
At also directed all offices to implement energy saving measures, including but not limited to: a. Switching off lights, air conditioning units, computers, and other electrical equipment when not in use; b. Ensuring that all electrical equipment is turned off after office hours; and c. Promoting a culture of vigilance and responsibility among employees in minimizing electricity consumption.
To further reduce fuel consumption and operational costs, the following policies shall also be observed: a. Field trips or non-essential activities using Local Government Unit vehicles are strictly prohibited. b. Use of LGU vehicles for seminars, trainings, workshops, and similar activities is no longer allowed. c. Officials and employees attending seminars, trainings, or official activities outside the office shall utilize public transportation or commute unless otherwise authorized for essential official purposes.
At the same time, fuel and gasoline allocations for offices and departments shall be strictly regulated and monitored by the appropriate offices of the City Government. Requests for fuel usage must be justified and approved in accordance with existing policies.
All department heads and office chiefs were directed to ensure the strict implementation and monitoring of the provisions of the Executive Order within their respective offices, and any violation of its provisions may subject the responsible personnel to appropriate administrative action in accordance with existing civil service rules and regulations.