MANILA — The Department of Education (DepEd) has announced that its non-teaching personnel will report onsite only four days a week starting Monday, March 9, with Friday designated as a work-from-home day.

In a memorandum issued Sunday, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the policy applies to non-teaching and related-teaching personnel, including contract-of-service and job order employees, under DepEd’s existing flexible work arrangements. Teachers will continue their regular class schedules to ensure uninterrupted instruction and completion of end-of-school-year activities.

The move aligns with other government agencies adopting four-day onsite arrangements following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive for government offices to conserve energy amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. The policy takes effect immediately and will remain until lifted or revoked by the Office of the President.

Energy-saving measures

DepEd also ordered offices to implement energy conservation protocols targeting a 10% to 20% reduction in electricity and fuel consumption. Measures include setting air conditioners to 24 degrees Celsius, activating sleep modes on office equipment, turning off non-essential lights and electronics during lunch breaks and after office hours, and encouraging personnel to use stairs instead of elevators when feasible.

Virtual meetings, limited travel

All inter-agency meetings, consultations, and conferences are to be conducted online unless physically necessary. Official travel will be restricted to essential or critical activities that cannot be conducted virtually.

The directive follows Malacañang Memorandum Circular No. 114, signed by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto on March 6, which mandated strict energy conservation protocols in government offices in response to surging global fuel prices amid the conflict in the Middle East.