26 gov't agencies to hold office today

By Leny G. Gabo

Friday would still be office day for employees of at least 23 government offices and agencies not included in the coverage of the four-day work week, which President Arroyo directed in her Administrative Order 117.

According to the initial list furnished by the Philippine Information Agency, these agencies are: Air Transportation Office (ATO), Bureaus of Customs, Treasury, Internal Revenue (BIR) district offices, Treasury, Fire Protection, and Jail Management and Penology; Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP); Commission on Audit (COA); Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP); Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); Government Service Insurance System (GSIS); Pag-ibig; National Bureau of Investigation (NBI); National Food Authority (NFA); National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA); National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC); National Statistics Office (NSO); Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO); Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA); Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration will have skeletal staff today.

It was also learned that the National Prosecution Service and the Public Attorney's Office have also been exempted from the coverage of the Order.

Department of Justice Sec. Raul Gonzalez Sr., who exercises control and supervision over these offices, issued Department Circular no. 16-A, amending the previous directive dated March 31, 2005 which adopted the four-day work week.

The directive was addressed to the Chief Prosecutor and all heads of the regional, City, provincial prosecution offices, and the heads of the Public Attorney's Offices.

The amendment came after state prosecutors complained that the previously scheduled hearings are affected.

Iloilo City Prosecutor Efrain Baldago said the new work scheme adversely affects the pending cases.