Philippine Government Announces Work-From-Home Arrangement and Asynchronous Public Classes on October 31

Manila — The Malacañang Palace has issued a memorandum circular enabling a work-from-home (WFH) arrangement for government employees and asynchronous classes in public schools scheduled for October 31, 2023.

According to a news release by Philippines News Agency, by authority of the President, Memorandum Circular 38 states that the new measures are intended to give government employees the “full opportunity to properly observe All Saints’ Day on 1 November 2023 and allow them to travel to and from the different regions in the country.”

The circular specifies that government agencies responsible for the delivery of basic and health services, disaster preparedness or response, and other vital services are exempt from the WFH arrangement and will continue their usual in-person operations.

The memorandum also notes that a similar work arrangement for private companies and class schedules for private schools is left to the discretion of their respective heads.

The country is set to enjoy an extended weekend with the declaration of three non-working holidays on October 31, and November 1 and 2. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. recently declared October 30 as a special non-working day to facilitate voting in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. He also announced November 1 and 2 as holidays in observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, respectively.