Amid Middle East tensions

TACLOBAN CITY —The Department of Migrant Workers(DMW) said it continues to monitor the situation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Eastern Visayas in the Middle East, even as no worker from the region has so far requested repatriation despite the ongoing tensions in the area.

Lovely Aissa Velayo-Agliam, DMW-8 officer-in-charge regional director, said their office has not received any formal request for repatriation from OFWs originating from the region.
“Although there are OFWs who have already been repatriated, none of them so far are from Eastern Visayas,” Velayo-Agliam said.

While the office did not mention as to how many OFWs from the region are working in the troubled Middle East, they could easily run into thousands.

Velayo-Agliam noted, however, that the regional office has been receiving inquiries from families in the region asking about the condition of their relatives working in the Middle East, particularly in countries such as Kuwait, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia.

She said the DMW has instructed recruitment agencies with deployed workers in these countries to closely monitor the status and welfare of their employees abroad.

The DMW regional head added that their office, together with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration(OWWA), is also extending assistance to OFWs who may be
stranded in the Philippines while waiting to depart for their overseas jobs.

In cases where deployment is temporarily suspended due to the situation abroad, the agency coordinates with recruitment agencies to allow the workers to return to their home
provinces while awaiting further travel clearance.

Meanwhile, Maria Jasmin Andrade, supervising labor and employment officer of DMW-8, said the agency’s 43 overseas posts remain on alert and ready to assist Filipino workers
who may seek repatriation.

She said OFWs from Eastern Visayas who wish to return home may contact the DMW through its hotline, email, or official social media platforms for immediate assistance.
The agency assured that contingency measures are in place should any OFW from
the region request repatriation as the government continues to monitor developments in the Middle East.

ROEL T. AMAZONA

Amid energy-saving call by national gov’t

TACLOBAN CITY– Biliran province has become the first in Eastern Visayas to implement a four-day workweek for government offices starting Monday, March 9, 2026, as part of a nationwide energy-saving initiative amid rising fuel costs and global supply uncertainties linked to Middle East tensions.

Through Executive Order No. 12, Governor Rogelio Espina directed all provincial offices to adopt a compressed schedule from Monday to Thursday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., maintaining the standard 40-hour workweek while reducing electricity consumption in government facilities.
Essential services such as health, disaster response, and public safety continue to operate under regular schedules.

All the province’s eight municipalities—Almeria, Biliran, Cabucgayan, Caibiran, Culaba, Kawayan, Maripipi, and Naval—have also adopted similar measures, which all have done starting March 9.

The order emphasizes practical energy-saving practices such as limiting air-conditioning and lighting use, maximizing equipment efficiency, and adopting work arrangements that reduce power consumption.

Amid the schedule changes, the Biliran Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (BCCII) assured the public that cargo transport rates in the province will remain frozen despite rising fuel prices.

The business group said it aims to keep goods and services “fair, reasonable, and accessible” while monitoring conditions that may require future adjustments.

The compressed workweek is also being adopted by other local government units and institutions across Eastern Visayas.

Other local government units joining the energy-saving drive include Maasin City, Southern Leyte, where Administrative Order No. 25 sets Monday-to-Thursday office hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and San Isidro, Northern Samar, where a similar flexible work arrangement is in effect. Offices providing vital services such as health, public safety, and disaster response continue normal operations.

In Abuyog, Leyte, employees will follow a Monday-to-Thursday schedule from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with Fridays as a non-working day.

The University of Eastern Philippines (UEP) in Catarman will implement a similar schedule for non-teaching staff, while faculty and essential service personnel continue regular hours. UEP President Cherry Ultra said the arrangement aligns with both the university’s learning continuity plan and national energy directives.

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has also shifted to a four-day on-site schedule, designating Fridays as mandatory work-from-home days while keeping service counters open through adjusted frontline shifts and utilizing solar power to support operations.

The Department of Tourism – Eastern Visayas will also implement a four-day workweek starting March 9 under Department Order No. 2026-0013, with employees working Monday to Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. while Fridays are observed as a non-working day.

Officials emphasized that the compressed workweek aims to reduce electricity consumption, support the national energy-saving campaign, and ensure continuity of public services amid rising energy costs influenced by global events.

JOEY A. GABIETA