The House of Representatives of the Philippines has approved a wide set of cost cutting measures and a modified work arrangement aimed at reducing operational expenses and improving the use of public resources.
The plan is contained in a memorandum signed by House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil dated March 12. All offices were directed to implement the measures in line with fiscal discipline policies from the Office of the President.
“In line with the Office of the President Memorandum Circular No. 114 dated 6 March 2026, the House of Representatives shall adopt the following modified work arrangements and guidelines to streamline operations, reduce non-essential expenditures, and optimize the use of public resources,” the memorandum said.
The policy introduces a hybrid work setup for House personnel during both recess and session periods. During recess, employees will report to the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays while working from home on Mondays and Thursdays. During session periods, offices will maintain a stronger on site presence with personnel reporting from Monday to Wednesday and working from home on Thursdays.
House offices were also instructed to ensure that services remain accessible by publishing contact details such as mobile numbers and email addresses on the House website, the official Facebook page and the HRep Viber group.
Several operational units will maintain skeletal staffing on site even during work from home days to keep core services running. These include the Engineering and Physical Facilities Department, the Medical and Dental Service, the Records Management Service and the Legislative Security Bureau.
The plan also imposes stricter controls on official travel and meetings as part of broader efforts to limit operational costs.
Energy conservation forms a central part of the program. The memorandum mandates limits on air conditioning use inside House buildings.
“Air-conditioning units may only be turned on at 8:00 a.m. and must be turned off at 6:00 p.m., except in essential areas such as the Session Hall during session days. Thermostat settings shall also be standardized at 24°C,” the memorandum mandated.
Lighting and electricity consumption will also be monitored closely. Offices were instructed to maximize natural lighting where possible and ensure lights in meeting rooms, restrooms and workspaces are turned off when not in use.
Computers and office equipment will follow stricter energy saving rules including automatic monitor shutoff after five minutes of inactivity and limits on printing to essential documents while encouraging electronic circulation of files.
Transportation policies were also included in the plan. Vehicles within House premises must follow a strict no idling rule. Requests for official House vehicles will be temporarily suspended while offices are encouraged to adopt carpooling and other alternative mobility arrangements.
The House leadership said the institution will also pursue long term investments in energy efficient technologies.
“The institution shall pursue long-term investments in energy-efficient technologies, including the installation of solar panels and adoption of net metering systems,” the memorandum states.
“Lighting systems shall transition to high-efficiency LED fixtures, and inverter-type air-conditioning units shall be prioritized.”
Offices will also designate energy efficiency officers or “Green Teams” to monitor compliance and recommend additional cost saving measures.
The House Executive Committee will regularly review the implementation of the policies and assess further steps to improve operational efficiency.
