By Emmanuel T. Erediano
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Variety News Staff
GOVERNOR David M. Apatang on Thursday issued Directive 2026‑3, declaring the Monday following government payday as an austerity day off.
It was a revision of the austerity measure the governor issued in November 2025, most of which he said remains in effect.
Under the latest directive, government employees’ work schedule will be from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday. In the original austerity directive, the schedule ran from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The governor said the revised austerity measure was issued “in light of global factors affecting local fuel prices and rising costs of living” and “is intended to help alleviate the financial burden on government employees and families.”
He also instructed that government offices must remain open during the regular hours of the non-standard work week, including lunch hours. He encouraged officials and staff of departments and agencies to use modified scheduling to comply with Thursday’s directive.
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.
