BARMM scraps four-day workweek starting Monday

COTABATO CITY — Government offices in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will return to the regular five-day workweek starting Monday, Nov. 16, ending the four-day compressed schedule.

The Bangsamoro Cabinet agreed on the change at its first regular meeting on Nov. 6. The Office of the Chief Minister put it into effect through Memorandum Circular No. 0150, issued on Nov. 10.

The circular revokes Memorandum Circular No. 0049, Series of 2026, which set up the four-day onsite work arrangement. It also supersedes or amends other issuances that conflict with it.

Under the new circular, all ministries, offices and agencies will work Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. That is eight hours a day, or 40 hours a week, in line with civil service rules.

Heads of ministries, offices and agencies were directed to strictly enforce the circular and ensure an orderly transition.

The Bangsamoro Parliament issued a similar order. In Memorandum No. 1126-004, dated Nov. 10 and released on Nov. 11, Speaker Amer Zaakaria A. Rakim directed members of Parliament, the Office of the Secretary General and all organic offices of the legislature to return to the five-day schedule on the same date.

The memo also ends the Parliament's own compressed workweek, which was set up under Memorandum Circular No. 0326-073 on March 12, 2026.

The Office of the Secretary General, service directors and division chiefs were tasked to monitor attendance and enforce the order.