Malacañang on Thursday said President Rodrigo Duterte would decide on the proposed implementation of a four-day workweek on Monday.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) recommended reducing the workweek to just four days amid rising fuel prices.

“Ito po ay rekomendasyon, ito’y suggestion para po maibsan iyong posibleng negative effect or iyong talagang, ano na ito e hindi na maiiwasang negative effect na pagtaas ng presyo ng krudo,” acting Palace spokesman Martin Andanar said in a “Dobol B” interview.

A four-day workweek requires workers to work 10 hours per day.

“Malalaman po natin ito ngayong darating na Lunes pero ang mahalaga ho ay sinabi naman ni Presidente Duterte […] na kung ano iyong magiging desisyon ng economic cluster dahil iyon naman ang kanilang forte, ayun ang polisiya ng ating gobyerno,” Andanar said.

The country this week saw oil prices increase for the 11th straight time.

Since 2022, diesel prices increased P30.65 per liter, gasoline by P20.35 per liter, and kerosene by 21.90 per liter.

To cushion the impacts of skyrocketing oil prices in the country, the government will grant a P200 monthly cash aid or “ayuda” to some 12 million low-income families. John Ezekiel J. Hirro