Manila: Malaca±ang assured the public on Thursday that essential government services, including health, police, fire, and emergency response operations, will remain fully operational despite energy conservation measures being implemented by the government. This action comes amid a Middle East crisis that has severely impacted the global oil supply chain.
According to Philippines News Agency, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto emphasized that agencies delivering frontline services are exempt from the four-day onsite work arrangement designed to reduce energy consumption. "The language of the President's order is clear: Agencies that provide frontline services shall keep their services running at all times," Recto stated.
Recto highlighted that the "overriding rule" is to ensure that "essential, basic and vital services" are not interrupted. This directive covers agencies involved in the "direct delivery of health, public safety, and emergency response services" to the public. While these agencies are expected to observe energy-saving measures, Recto assured that such measures should not impact service delivery. "These should not in any way curtail or compromise the work that they do," he added.
Recto further explained that the initiative to reduce energy consumption across the government is aimed at reallocating resources towards critical services. "Kung tumataas ang presyo ng gasolina (Since the price of gasoline is going up), we will put government service vehicles on a gas diet, so that ambulances, fire trucks, police patrol cars can continue running," he noted.
Under Memorandum Circular No. 114, issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on March 6, support and auxiliary offices, even within frontline agencies, are required to cut down actual energy use by 20 percent. Recto clarified, "Kung regional office ka ng (If you are a regional office of the) Bureau of Fire Prevention, covered ka ng (you are covered by) energy conservation protocols. But gasoline supply of firetrucks, for obvious reasons, are exempt from scrimping."
