MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is recommending a shift to a 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. work schedule for government employees in a bid to alleviate the worsening traffic congestion in the National Capital Region (NCR).

MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes announced the proposal during a press conference on Thursday, following a meeting with the Metro Manila Council (MMC) at the MMDA headquarters in Pasig City.

“We’ll coordinate with them and ask them what their preference is so that the data we’ll be submitting to the President is complete and the recommendations will be in line with various experiences of each of the local government units (LGUs),” Artes said.

The policy, once approved by all 17 NCR mayors, will be submitted to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for consideration.

A survey conducted among LGUs where the policy was tested indicated positive results, showing improved traffic flow and shorter travel times during peak hours. 

The MMDA’s report also noted a significant reduction in traffic delays along Metro Manila’s major roads.

The agency estimates that the proposed work hours will affect approximately 175,918 government workers in the region who use private vehicles, accounting for 37.15 percent of the NCR’s government workforce. 

Meanwhile, around 223,508 public transportation commuters, or 47.20 percent of government employees, are expected to benefit by avoiding the usual rush hour.

Senator Joel Villanueva has recently urged the government and private sectors to prioritize telecommuting arrangements as Metro Manila braces for worsening traffic congestion with the planned EDSA overhaul this year.

Villanueva, principal author of Republic Act No. 11165 or the Telecommuting Act, said there is an urgent need for alternative work setups to ease the daily burden on commuters and mitigate economic losses caused by traffic.

“We have been advocating for this since we pushed for the enactment of the Telecommuting Act, as this will benefit both employers and employees in sectors that can operate through remote operation,” Villanueva said in a statement earlier this week.

The senator noted that traffic congestion costs the Philippine economy P3.5 billion daily, based on a 2018 Japan International Cooperation Agency study. 

Without immediate action, this figure could rise to P5.4 billion per day by 2035, he said.

The EDSA overhaul is expected to disrupt the metro’s main thoroughfare, and could exacerbate traffic problems.