Four-day Workweek Proposal Surfaces as Oil Price Threat Worries Workers & Students
OIL PRICE – As fears of a major oil price hike grow due to tensions in the Middle East, a lawmaker is pushing for work-from-home arrangements and online classes to help Filipinos cope with rising costs.
A lawmaker from Parañaque has urged both government and private institutions to prepare alternative work and school arrangements amid fears of a possible spike in oil prices due to rising tensions in the Middle East.
Parañaque City 2nd District Representative Brian Raymund Yamsuan suggested the implementation of a four-day workweek and a temporary shift to work-from-home setups and online classes. According to the lawmaker, these measures could help ease the burden on workers and students if petroleum prices continue to climb in the coming weeks.
In a statement, Yamsuan emphasized the need for immediate preparation to cushion the potential impact of higher fuel costs on Filipino households.
“We should act fast to ease the burden on our countrymen if oil prices continue to spike. We call on the government and the private sector to start planning the temporary transition to work-from-home setups for employees, and for schools to prepare for online classes,” said Yamsuan.
He explained that the proposal is intended to help Filipinos who would likely be the first to feel the effects of rising fuel prices, especially those who rely heavily on transportation for work and school.
“These are the steps that we can immediately take para makatulong sa ating mga kababayang unang tatamaan ng epekto nang patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis kung magtagal pa ang krisis sa Middle East.”
Earlier, Malacañang said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. may study the proposal to implement a four-day workweek as part of broader measures aimed at conserving energy and reducing fuel consumption.
The idea has also gained support from Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who suggested a four-day workweek arrangement in which one of the working days would be conducted under a work-from-home setup.
Meanwhile, the Department of Energy warned that fuel prices may rise significantly in the coming weeks if tensions in the Middle East worsen. According to the agency, petroleum products could increase by as much as ₱10 per liter.
The geopolitical conflict intensified after the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury, a series of airstrikes targeting the government of Iran. The operation was reportedly carried out to curb Iran’s missile program, which has been viewed as a potential threat to regional security.
With the uncertainty surrounding global oil supply, officials are now exploring possible strategies to mitigate the economic impact on Filipino consumers. The proposed work-from-home arrangements and online classes are among the measures being considered to help reduce transportation costs and ease the pressure on households if fuel prices continue to surge.
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