Traffic builds up near the Guadalupe Bridge along EDSA on June 5, 2024 due to a sudden downpour in the metro. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Monday said he is considering the recommendation of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to adjust the office hours of government agencies in Metro Manila in a bid to ease traffic congestion.

MMDA recommends modified work schedule for national gov’t agencies

MMDA proposes a 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. office hours for government agencies in the region.  

“Yes, I saw that. Well, we’re studying it. If it works, we’ll do it,” Marcos said.

Marcos, however, noted the need to consult the commuting public on whether the proposal is practical for them.

“It’s not enough to talk to the traffic enforcers and the administrators of traffic that have made the suggestion. We also have to ask the commuting public kung praktikal para sa kanila,” he said.

MMDA chairman Romando Artes said last week that they would recommend to Marcos the adoption of the modified work schedule from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. in all national government agencies.

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“Sa aming palagay kung lahat po ng national government agency ay mag-i-implement ng 7 [a.m.] to 4 [p.m.] ay doon po mararamdaman talaga yung magandang epekto nito. Halos kalahating milyon po ang empleyado ng national government agencies dito sa Metro Manila,” Artes had said.

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) said the proposal “must be studied thoroughly.”

The government should look at the possible effects on those transacting at government offices, most of whom come from the private sector whose working schedule remains until 5 p.m., noted CSC Commissioner Aileen Lourdes Lizada.

“Government agencies must attend to their clients who are already inside government offices. What happens to them? …What is now the priority of the government agencies: the transacting public or traffic?” Lizada said in a statement.

“These are valid questions that need to be addressed.”

Artes said based on a study conducted by some LGUs, the traffic volume and travel speed along major thoroughfares in Metro Manila have increased by at least 17.68 percent and 4.6 percent, respectively.

MMDA data showed the historical traffic volume in Metro Manila in 2019 or before the pandemic was around 3 million vehicles per day and it increased to around 3.6 million vehicles per day in 2023.

In 2019, the travel speed was recorded at 23.38 kph during peak hours and it improved to 24.46 kph in 2023. — With a report from Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News

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