By Emmanuel T. Erediano
emmanuel@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
EFFECTIVE Nov. 3, the work hours of Legislative Bureau staff will be reduced to 70 hours biweekly.
Their new schedule will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.
In his memorandum, LB Director Perry P. Tenorio cited Gov. David M. Apatang’s revised fiscal year budget, which reduces the LB’s personnel budget from $1.6 million to $1.4 million, as the reason for the reduction in work hours.
In anticipation of the Legislature’s favorable action on the governor’s cost-cutting recommendation without additional resources for LB personnel, Tenorio said management “must implement a reduction in work hours to ensure fiscal sustainability while striving to maintain essential services.”
The adjustment in LB work hours, he said, represents approximately a 12% cut and “is a direct response to budgetary constraints imposed by the revised budget, aligning our expenditures with available funding.”
The director noted that for overtime-eligible employees, the change in schedule will be a reduction in work hours. For salaried, overtime-exempt employees, the adjustment involves a reduction in salary, though their overtime-exempt status will remain in effect.
“Regrettably, this austerity measure will remain in effect for the entirety of fiscal year 2026 unless additional resources are identified to address the budget shortfall,” Tenorio said, adding that LB management recognizes the impact of these changes on staff and operations.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.