Customers conduct work in a cafe in Quezon City on June 18, 2018. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/file 

MANILA — The full implementation of the Work from Home Law is a better solution to traffic in Metro Manila than imposing a congestion fee, a senator who pushed for the WFH law said on Thursday.

Senator Joel Villanueva's statement comes after Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) bared on Wednesday the possibility of a "congestion fee" in EDSA during rush hour, but said it will only be applicable once the mass transport becomes more efficient.

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"Instead of penalizing motorists with additional fees, why not maximize the potential of the Work from Home Law, which not only eases traffic but also promotes work-life balance and enhances productivity?" Villanueva stated in a press release.

The senator, who serves as the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development was author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11165 or the Work from Home Law. The measure encourages employers to adopt a work arrangement that allows employees to work from an alternative workplace with the help of technology.

The adoption of the work-from-home scheme remains as employers' prerogative based on an agreement between them and the employees.

Villanueva: Work-from-home law can ease Metro Manila traffic woes

Villanueva highlighted this alternative setup reduces the number of vehicles plying Metro Manila thoroughfares without "imposing additional financial burdens on motorists".

"The solution is not to make driving a privilege for the few who can afford additional costs. The real solutions lie in significant improvements in the public transport system and reducing the need to travel in the first place. RA 11165 was designed precisely to address the latter," he said.

He said that the government must create sustainable, inclusive, and people-centered policies that do not add to the financial burden of struggling commuters and motorists.

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The Work from Home Law, signed in 2019, mandates the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to form guidelines that will ensure "fair treatment" to WFH employees in terms of rate of pay including overtime and night shift differential, benefits, holidays, access to training and opportunities, and health and safety measures.

Earlier this year, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said the Marcos administration will push adoption of "alternative work arrangements" (AWAs) in 2025 to combat unemployment and underemployment under the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.

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