MANILA, Philippines — State insurer Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) announced it will transition to a four-day on-site workweek beginning March 9, 2026 to join the nationwide push for energy austerity.
The move aligns with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for government agencies and state-owned corporations to curb electricity and fuel consumption. The mandate comes as the Philippine government grapples with volatile energy prices driven by ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Under the new temporary arrangement, the bulk of the GSIS workforce will report to offices from Monday to Thursday. Fridays will be designated as a mandatory work-from-home (WFH) day.
Despite the shift in office schedules, GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso assured the public that the agency is not “closing its doors” on Fridays.
However, Frontline Services counters, including the Lobby and Pensioners Lounge, will remain operational from Monday to Friday. Rotational shifting schedule will also be implemented among personnel handling member inquiries and pension processing to ensure that there’s no gap in service delivery. In terms of digital continuity, all offices remain accountable for maintaining standard productivity levels during the WFH transition.
A key driver behind the timing of the shift is the agency’s recent investment in renewable energy. Veloso highlighted that the four-day on-site model allows the GSIS headquarters to run almost entirely on self-generated power during the Friday WFH sessions.
“GSIS fully supports the national government’s call for energy conservation,” Veloso stated. “With this setup, our energy consumption on Fridays will be practically free because of our existing solar panels.”
The policy is part of a broader administrative strategy to mitigate the impact of rising global fuel costs. By reducing the physical footprint of massive government offices for one day a week, the administration hopes to significantly lower the national grid’s peak demand.
The GSIS stated that this special work arrangement will remain in effect until further notice, pending the stabilization of energy markets.