The Manila Times
SEN. Erwin Tulfo raised the need to bring back the work-from-home (WFH) setup for the private and government sectors amid the continuous rise in fuel prices triggered by the Middle East war. He said that his proposal was implemented during the pandemic and was proven effective. “If a worker’s physical presence or activity is not required at the workplace, why not just have them report online?” Tulfo asked. “For instance, those in office roles like planning, research, admin, customer service, and other similar jobs can work from home,” he said on Sunday. Even medical consultations and checkups were done online by doctors during the pandemic, he added. "Why not do it again now?” “And if physical presence is required, such as in manufacturing, hotels, restaurants, or hospitals, colleagues can carpool in one vehicle and split the gas costs,” Tulfo said in a statement. The senator also suggested that officemates could book through ride-hailing apps and share the fare. “I’ve noticed that the number of stranded passengers on the streets seems to be increasing these days because fewer PUVs (public utility vehicles) are operating due to the high cost of fuel,” he said. “With these steps that we have tried before, workers will be able to save,” Tulfo said. Sen. Joel Villanueva earlier sought the expansion of WFH arrangements to reduce fuel consumption and shield Filipinos from the effects of rising oil prices. He urged the government and the private sector to adopt other flexible work schemes to address possible fare hike. Villanueva, author of Republic Act 11165 or the Work-From-Home law, said the measure provides a ready policy framework that can be maximized to lessen commuting at a time when global oil prices are climbing due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Signed into law in 2018, the law institutionalized work-from-home arrangements in the private sector, allowing employees to perform their duties from alternative workplaces using telecommunications and digital technology. He said that aside from work from home schemes, both the government and the private sector could also adopt other alternative work arrangements that reduce commuting demand, such as hybrid work setups, compressed workweeks, staggered working hours, and flexible schedules. “These alternative work arrangements can help decongest our roads, lower fuel consumption, and allow workers to save on transportation costs,” Villanueva said in a statement.
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