The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday ordered stringent energy-saving measures alongside work-from-home (WFH) on Fridays amid the oil price surge due to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
DepEd Memorandum No. 18, series of 2026, is in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to government offices to reduce fuel and electricity consumption.
“DepEd is fully committed to doing its part in reducing energy consumption across government operations while ensuring that our schools and offices continue to serve the public effectively,” DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said in a statement.
The DepEd seeks to cut 10 to 20 percent of its electricity and fuel usage across its operations.
Under the memo, the DepEd will maintain air-conditioning settings at 24°C; activate sleep settings on equipment; turn off lights and devices during break times and beyond office hours; and utilize stairs.
The agency also designated Fridays for its work-from-home setup for all its non-teaching and related-teaching personnel, with the four-day onsite work scheduled from Mondays to Thursdays.
All personnel under WFH status will submit their Daily Time Records, Individual Daily Logs and Accomplishment Reports.
Angara assured that there will be no learning disruptions despite the cost-cutting measures.
“We are firmly resolved to ensure that these shifts in our operation do not cause a single day of delay in the delivery of essential government services to our learners and stakeholders,” he said.
All public school teachers will still continue their existing class schedules to ensure learning continuity and completion of all end-of-school-year activities.
The DepEd will also implement a close watch on fuel usage and ensure preventive maintenance for government vehicles.
The agency will also consolidate official trips to minimize the deployment of vehicles, optimize travel routes, and prevent vehicle idling.
Official travels, likewise, will be limited to “essential activities,” while inter-agency meetings, consultations, and conferences will be conducted online, if possible. (PNA)
