Cebu City has recorded mixed results in its bid to save resources after implementing a four-day work week, according to a report submitted by the Department of General Services (DGS) covering April 6 to 17, 2026.
Water Consumption Initially Drops but Later Rises
The report showed that water consumption initially decreased, with costs dropping from P48,419 to P34,987, a 27.7 percent reduction from late February to early April. However, water bills rose again to P40,834 during April 11-17, indicating inconsistent savings for the city.
Electricity Usage Lower in Some Buildings
Electricity usage remained lower in several government buildings. The Executive Building recorded a reduction of 21 to 23 percent. The Legislative Building saw decreases ranging from 6 to 28 percent, while the Finance/ABC Building posted the largest reduction of 28 to 38 percent. Despite these cuts, the report clarified that lower consumption did not always translate into financial savings due to demand charges and other operational factors.
Fuel Consumption Shows Significant Improvement
Fuel consumption saw the most notable improvement. Diesel use dropped by over 50 percent, with weekly reductions of 51.71 percent and 52.13 percent in April, attributed to fewer trips, better routing, and stricter vehicle monitoring. Gasoline usage also improved, shifting from a 3 to 15 percent increase in March to a 7 to 8 percent decrease in April.
Overall Savings and Remaining Inefficiencies
Overall, the city recorded total savings of P5,319.01 during the April 11-17 period. However, inefficiencies persisted, particularly at the Finance/ABC Building, which posted a net loss of P3,576.63. The report noted that some savings were due to temporary factors such as reduced operations during holidays, rather than consistent policy compliance. It also identified implementation gaps, including inconsistent air conditioning use, lighting control, and water management in some offices.
Under an executive order issued by Mayor Nestor Archival, the four-day work week was originally set to run only until April 17 as a pilot test.
