Philippines shifts government to four-day work week as oil prices rise
Mar 10th 2026
President Marcos ordered a temporary four-day workweek for government offices and energy-saving measures starting Monday as the Iran-related conflict threatens oil supplies and pushes local fuel prices sharply higher.
- The four-day workweek for all government offices starts Monday and is described as temporary with no end date.
- Frontline services, police and firemen are exempt from the shorter week.
- President Marcos said closure of the Strait of Hormuz could raise local pump prices next week by 7.48 PHP per liter for gasoline, 17.28 PHP for diesel, and 32.35 PHP for kerosene.
- The Philippines imports most of its crude from the Middle East and still relies on oil-fired power plants for electricity.
- More than two million Filipinos working in the Middle East face heightened safety and job security risks from the conflict.
- Government agencies must cut fuel and power use by 10 to 20 percent and non-essential travel and in-person meetings that can be done online are banned.
- Marcos asked Congress to allow excise tax cuts if crude exceeds $80 per barrel and to amend a biofuels law to permit cheaper bioethanol blends, and he promised fuel subsidies and cash transfers to affected sectors.