As the rest of the world, the Philippines labors under the thumb of the oil ticks that run OPEC. As a result of the recent spike in the price of crude the Arroyo Government has a plan. A scheme. Ah…, well… something, and press reports claim it will save $2.6 million dollars.
Philippines President Gloria Arroyo has ordered most Philippine government offices to go on a four-day workweek in April and May to conserve energy.From April 4 to May 31, government employees in the executive branch will work four days of 10 hours each instead of five eight-hour days from Monday to Friday, according to an administrative order signed by Arroyo Wednesday.
She said it was imperative for the government to lead the way in energy conservation, without jeopardizing the delivery of public service, in order to mitigate the impact of the oil price increases on the government’s fiscal position and the country’s U.S. dollar reserves, Business Times online reported.
I’m confused. But wait let me refresh my 2nd grade math skills. Hmmm. 2 plus 2 = 4, 4 plus 8 = 12. OK I’m up to snuff, 4 x 10 = 40, 5 x 8 = 40.
Nope.. still confusing, to me at least. But never let it be said I won’t give Ate Glo (Pres. Arroyo) the benefit of the doubt. She and the “experts” that concocted this plan have most likely considered less energy will be expended because of one less travel day. A fair assessment, wouldn’t you say?
But there is one thing these calculation wizzards didn’t account for (or… maybe they did!). The countries schools begin their summer break this week. And as “luck” would have it the kiddies will be able to partake of summer fun til June. Also this week has seen an enormous increase in advertising for the many resort areas in country. Hmmmm… I wonder!
As they say, “you do the math,” political math that is.
Late Breaking Update: As the local temperature soars near the 90 degree mark, with humidity hovering around 80% the Department of Finance is considering a proposal to tax water consumption as another means of raising revenue.
I’ll let you all decide what this means to those that now enjoy a 3 day weekend for the next two months. Just make sure you figure into your calculations they will avail themselves of the opportunity to travel to the previously noted resort areas. Areas where the potential tax will be paid by the owner, not those participating in the weekend revelry.
In other late breaking news, President Arroyo’s approval rating is at it’s lowest level since first assuming office in 2001. With the exception of the 99% of the population that will be working a 5 day work week during the broiling summer heat I just can’t imagine why. What’s wrong with these ingrates?
Cross posted within the Cranial Cavity
4 Comments
Hmm… Actually, I can see how this could save them a good bit on energy, at least theoretically, if they’ve got temperatures soaring past 90 degrees already.
When temperatures are that warm, the largest energy expense is air conditioning in the middle of the day. I’ve long since noticed that on my own energy bills, which is why I have a programmable thermostat in my home. I’ve set it to raise the temperature a few degrees during the day all summer while I’m at work. I won’t notice it anyway, since I’m not there. Then it drops the temperature automatically shortly before I come home, so the house is nice and cool for me. You can’t let the temperature raise more than a few degrees, though, or you’ll erase all your savings in the cost of re-cooling your home.
By extending the workdays most of the week but removing a day altogether, the government has adjusted its schedule so that it does more cooling during the early morning and late evening hours when the sun is dimmer and the air outside is cooler anyway. Thus it takes less energy to cool, compared to the hot noontime of the day they’ve given up.
How much savings they’ll get in reality versus their projections is an entirely different matter, though. There are all kinds of things that can cause these kinds of savings to vanish under other costs.
Russell “There are all kinds of things that can cause these kinds of savings to vanish under other costs.”
Two points:
You miss the main point of the post. With the 4 day week many, I repeat many, Filipinos will be traveling as much or more during their new found 3 day weekend. Trust me I live smack in the center of a, near to Manila, resort area. Within spitting distance I can almost dip my toe into 10 difference hot spring resort swimming pools. Within a 10km distance are literaly hundreds more. Also keep in mind these resorts offer fully air conditioned areas like, conference rooms, games rooms and overnight accomodations.
All of which makes traffic as bad as downtown Manila.
Secondly: You have failed to account for this being a third world (and the natives hate that description) country. Note this shortened work week only effects government employees. As opposed to the US that doesn’t equate to penguins and icebergs floating thru your big brother provided cubicle. The reality is even in a walk thru the Senate building you will find a much lower usage of the provided A/C. It is set at a level to remove humidity and then turns off. And at the lower level government offices there is no A/C at all.
While your suggestion is valid for some parts of the world It’s not close to being the reality here.
She should have left the four work days at eight hours each. A redcution of working time by bureaucrats should do wonders for the economy. In addition, if she pays them for 32 hours instead of 40 it should help the government’s budget. Win, win!
Presumably anybody going to those resorts has to pay to do so, and pay for the gas to get there as well. Since they will have to pay the higher energy costs for those activities (the resort owners and the gasoline companies will pass their higher costs along to the customers), the rise of energy prices the reduction of work days was caused by will itself put a crimp on their vacationing.
To lessen the chance of extended vacation trips, a day between Monday and Friday should be used as the non-working holiday.
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