Metro Manila, Philippines – The government is studying proposals to adjust work hours in national agencies to ease traffic congestion, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, said on Monday, Jan. 20.

“We’re studying it. If it works, we’ll do it. But we have to, it’s not enough to talk to the traffic enforcers and the administrators of traffic that have made the suggestion,” said Marcos.

“We also have to ask the commuting public kung practical para sa kanila. So if it turns out that everyone agrees to it then I cannot see why it will be a problem,” he added.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said last week that the region’s mayors will firm up their proposal to the president to carry out flexible work hours.

MMDA data showed that the flexible work shift had a minimal 1.23 percent improvement on travel time on major roads, while travel speed increased by over 3.6 percent.

On the other hand, traffic improved better on local roads with a 20 percent increase in travel speed.

“Sa aming palagay kung lahat ng national government agencies ay mag-implement ng 7 to 4 doon mararamdaman talaga ang magandang epekto nito. Nakita niyo ang datos. Halos kalahating milyon po ang empleyado ng national government agencies sa Metro Manila,” said MMDA Chairman Romando Artes.

[Translation: In our opinion, if all national government agencies implement a 7 to 4 schedule, the positive effects will really be felt. You saw the data. There are nearly half a million employees from national government agencies in Metro Manila.]

Local governments in the region first adjusted working hours in May 2024 as a way to ease traffic.

Francis Zamora, Metro Manila Council president and San Juan city mayor, supported the proposal to expand the coverage to other departments.

“Kung one hour ahead ka parati sa rush hour [If you are always one hour ahead of the rush hour] you do not hit the peak volume of cars,” he said.

NewsWatch Plus Correspondent Lance Mejico contributed to this report.