How Luzon LGUs are implementing energy-saving measures

2026-03-28 - 07:11

ALBAY, Philippines – Nearly a month after the United States-Israel war on Iran began on February 28, 2026, local government units (LGUs) across Luzon have intensified their efforts to conserve energy and resources. Driven by dwindling domestic oil supplies and soaring fuel prices, the crisis prompted Malacañang to issue Memorandum Circular No. 114 on March 6, mandating strict energy conservation protocols across all government offices. (READ: The Middle East crisis: From the Strait of Hormuz to your dining table) Under the memo, the President ordered public offices to transition to a four-day workweek as an immediate measure to stretch the country’s energy reserves. “The ongoing geopolitical tensions have led to significant volatility in global energy markets, resulting in the rising cost of fuel that impacts the national economy.... There is an urgent need to adopt strict energy conservation measures to further reduce the energy footprint of government operations and optimize the use of public resources,” the memo read. Following the President’s directive, LGUs have rolled out their own local mandates to enforce and expand upon these initiatives. Here are some of the ways LGUs across Luzon are implementing these critical energy-saving measures: Ilocos Region Ilocos Norte Most LGUs across Ilocos Norte have adopted the national government’s directives, transitioning to a four-day workweek to significantly reduce energy consumption in public offices. Rather than keeping all municipal buildings fully operational, several LGUs have deployed mobile service caravans. These caravans bring essential services directly to the barangays, minimizing the need for residents to travel and consume fuel. In Laoag City, the local government has taken a uniquely traditional approach to the crisis. To lessen the public’s reliance on fuel-dependent motor vehicles, the LGU is heavily promoting the use of the kalesa (a traditional horse-drawn carriage). This initiative serves a dual purpose: it cuts down on local fuel consumption while simultaneously revitalizing and celebrating the region’s cultural heritage. Ilocos Sur The Ilocos Sur provincial government issued an executive order adopting the four-day workweek to conserve energy. To maximize energy efficiency, the province also imposed strict regulations on the use of electrical equipment inside public buildings, placing specific restrictions on the operation of air-conditioning units. To date, the local governments of Salcedo and Quirino have formally issued their own executive orders to enact the compressed work schedule. La Union The majority of LGUs in La Union have also shifted to a four-day workweek. The municipality of Burgos, however, took a slightly different approach: while it retained a five-day schedule, the local government designated Mondays exclusively for remote work to eliminate one day of employee commuting. Pangasinan Echoing the rest of the region, local governments across Pangasinan have shortened the workweek to conserve resources. In Dagupan City, for instance, officials are supplementing this mandate by strictly monitoring municipal electricity consumption, rolling out scheduled power management systems, and integrating rigorous energy-efficient practices into their daily operations. Cagayan Valley Batanes Local government units across Batanes adopted the national government’s mandate, implementing a four-day workweek to significantly reduce energy consumption in public offices across the island province. Cagayan The Cagayan provincial government has also adopted the four-day workweek mandated by the national government. Beyond the shortened schedule, all provincial offices are tasked with enforcing strict energy-saving measures, including the limited use of air-conditioning units and a deliberate shift toward digital coordination to minimize physical operations. Isabela To curb high energy consumption, the Isabela provincial government has mandated a comprehensive set of conservation measures alongside flexible work programs. All government offices are now required to restrict the use of air-conditioning units, non-essential lighting, and other high-draw electrical equipment. Employees are also encouraged to limit official travel and utilize carpooling or centralized shuttle services to maximize fuel conservation. Nueva Vizcaya In Nueva Vizcaya, the majority of LGUs — including Dupax del Norte, Aritao, Solano, and Diadi — have issued public advisories confirming their transition to the mandated four-day workweek. Meanwhile, the local government of Quezon has taken the initiative a step further by outlining additional, localized energy-conserving practices to supplement the national directive. Quirino Rounding out the region, the local governments of Cabarroguis, Maddela, Nagtipunan, and Saguday in the province of Quirino have officially announced their compliance with the national government’s mandate, transitioning their public offices to the four-day workweek arrangement. Central Luzon Aurora In Aurora, local governments such as Dinalungan and Dipaculao have implemented a temporary four-day workweek in accordance with the national energy conservation mandate. However, the province has explicitly ensured that essential frontline operations, including healthcare and social service offices, remain fully operational to serve the public without disruption. Bataan The municipalities of Abucay, Orani, and Hermosa in Bataan have officially rolled out their new compressed schedules. Under the four-day workweek arrangement, municipal offices will now operate from Mondays to Thursdays, with extended working hours of 7 am to 6 pm to maintain consistent public service delivery. Bulacan The conservation efforts in Bulacan extend beyond local government offices to the education sector. Institutions such as the Bulacan State University, Bulacan Agricultural State College, and Meycauayan College have adjusted their operations by transitioning to hybrid work and academic setups. Meanwhile, the local governments of Bocaue and Malolos City have adopted the national mandate, with strict exemptions for vital sectors — health services, public safety, emergency response, and local economic enterprises will continue their regular schedules. Nueva Ecija To actively reduce fuel costs and maximize energy conservation, several LGUs in Nueva Ecija, including San Jose and Santo Domingo, have shifted to the four-day workweek. The Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology also adopted the compressed schedule, which took effect on March 9. Some provincial branches of national agencies, such as the Department of Science and Technology-Nueva Ecija and the Department of Agrarian Reform-Nueva Ecija, have scaled back operations to comply with the directive. Pampanga The majority of municipalities in Pampanga — including Porac, Mabalacat, Arayat, and Bacolor — have adopted the compressed four-day schedule to curb municipal energy consumption. Tarlac Tarlac LGUs, including Tarlac City, San Jose, Concepcion, Camiling, Anao, Bamban, Capas, La Paz, Mayantoc, Moncada, Pura, Ramos, San Clemente, Sta. Ignacia, Victoria, Paniqui, and Gerona, have all adopted the four-day workweek schedule into their administrative operations. Zambales In Zambales, local government units such as San Antonio, Masinloc, Iba, and Candelaria have similarly shifted to the condensed work schedule, committing to strict fuel and electricity conservation measures within their public facilities. Cordillera Administrative Region Baguio City To mitigate the impact of soaring fuel prices, the Baguio City local government has enforced mandatory energy conservation protocols alongside a four-day workweek. However, to ensure public safety is not compromised, all local quick response teams are strictly exempt from this compressed schedule and will continue their round-the-clock operations. Benguet Heeding the call for stricter energy management, the Benguet provincial government has shifted its offices to a four-day onsite work schedule to reduce institutional power consumption. In the education sector, Benguet State University has mirrored this mandate. While maintaining its “No Noon Break” policy to ensure continuous administrative service, BSU has transitioned most academic tasks to a work-from-home setup, requiring onsite attendance only for essential hands-on activities such as laboratory classes and related learning experiences. Mountain Province Acting Governor Jose Dominguez officially announced the province’s adoption of modified work arrangements. However, he emphasized that critical sectors — specifically health, public safety, frontline services, and disaster response — will remain fully operational beyond the four-day schedule to guarantee uninterrupted public service. Apayao The provincial government of Apayao formally adopted the national mandate by issuing Executive Order No. 03-2026, officially transitioning its local government workforce to the new four-day workweek arrangement. Kalinga Kalinga Governor James Edduba enacted Memorandum Order No. 124-2026, implementing the shortened four-day work schedule across provincial offices to reduce energy consumption. Calabarzon Cavite In Cavite, the local government of Imus issued an executive order mandating strict fuel consumption reduction. Under the directive, the use of government vehicles is severely limited to official functions, with synchronized trip schedules to avoid redundancy. Cavite LGUs are also enforcing robust energy conservation measures, such as capping air-conditioning units at 24 degrees Celsius, institutionalizing a mandatory “lights off and equipment off” policy, and maximizing the use of digital platforms to reduce both operational costs and travel requirements. Laguna Across Laguna, the compressed four-day workweek has been widely implemented, with public offices now operating from Mondays to Thursdays, 6 am to 7 pm. To further minimize fuel expenses, several LGUs in the province have issued memorandum orders suspending employee participation in external activities, such as seminars, study tours, and training sessions held outside their respective municipalities. The LGUs also strictly banned the use of government-issued vehicles for personal errands or nonessential travel. Quezon The Quezon provincial government also restricted the use of government-issued vehicles, prioritizing only urgent and essential official trips while outright banning personal or nonessential use. To stretch the province’s energy buffer in the long run, gasoline allowances are now subject to stringent spending controls. LGUs across the province are also strongly encouraged to transition entirely to online platforms for meetings to further cut travel demands. Mimaropa Oriental Mindoro Oriental Mindoro has implemented a rigorous set of austerity measures alongside the mandatory four-day workweek. Fuel loading for government vehicles has been cut to just three days per week, and municipal garbage collection operations have been reduced to twice a week. Government vehicles are strictly limited to official trips, and fuel expenses for nonessential travel will no longer be reimbursed, with exemptions granted only for active emergency and service vehicles. Additionally, air-conditioning usage is heavily restricted. Units may only be turned on 15 minutes after office hours begin and must be shut off 15 minutes before the workday ends. Palawan In Palawan, the provincial government has adopted the four-day workweek, shifting operational hours to 6 am to 7 pm, Mondays through Thursdays. Crucial sectors, including disaster response, health, and social work, remain strictly exempt from this compressed schedule to maintain uninterrupted public service. The province is also enforcing standard energy-saving protocols, including setting air-conditioning units to 24oC and restricting government vehicle usage to official business. Bicol Albay The Albay provincial government adopted a four-day on-site workweek setup, designating Fridays for a work-from-home schedule effective March 16. Offices with a directive on public safety and disaster preparedness, however, will remain operational 24/7 despite the new work arrangement. Camarines Sur The Department of the Interior and Local Government-Camarines Sur announced on March 12 a compressed work schedule for government offices from Mondays to Thursdays, 7 am to 7 pm. The office declared Fridays a non-working day. Naga City The Naga City government compressed the workweek schedule to Mondays to Thursdays, from 7 am to 6 pm. The city also declared Fridays a non-working day. Camarines Norte The Camarines Norte provincial government adopted the compressed four-day workweek schedule from Mondays to Thursdays starting March 9. The majority of the LGUs operate from 8 am to 7 pm, while the work schedule in Paracale, Capalonga, and Sta. Elena is from 6 am to 7 pm. Catanduanes The Catanduanes provincial government adopted the four-day workweek from Mondays to Thursdays, 7 am to 6 pm. In a memo dated March 10, the province mandated all offices to follow the new setup, excluding offices providing essential and frontline services. Masbate The Masbate provincial government mandated a four-day workweek schedule starting March 16. The memo, released on March 6, also included directives on the use of air-conditioning units and other office equipment to conserve energy. Sorsogon The Sorsogon provincial government ordered the four-day on-site workweek on March 11. The province designated Mondays to Thursdays from 8 am to 5 pm for on-site work, while designating Fridays for a work-from-home setup. – with reports from Marc Nataniel Servo, Ernest Cruz, and Francine Marie Aquino/Rappler.com Marc Nataniel Servo, Ernest Cruz, and Francine Marie Aquino are Rappler research interns.