25/03/2026
MEMORANDUM NO. CMLT-2026-096
In response to the announced nationwide transport strike scheduled for March 26-27, 2026 (Thursday and Friday), and in line with UP Manila's commitment to personnel safety and Memorandum Circular No. 114 on the austerity mandate, the following guidelines are hereby issued:
1. Skeleton Staff Arrangement
To maintain essential campus operations while minimizing the commuting burden on employees, all units shall transition to a skeleton staff arrangement for the duration of the strike, with half of the personnel on-site and the other half on a work-from-home (WFH) arrangement.
- Each unit shall implement a split-shift or rotational schedule between Thursday and Friday.
- The specific composition of the skeleton staff and the determination of onsite vs. remote tasks are subject to the approval of the respective heads of units/offices. Immediate supervisors shall provide and monitor tasks to be performed by those who will be in the WFH arrangement.
- Flexi-time shall also be allowed between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM until the completion of ten (10) hours of work per day. The recording of attendance and submission of accomplishment reports shall be done through the Online Recording of Attendance System (ORAS) at oras.upm.edu.ph.
- This arrangement applies to all regular and Contract of Service (COS) / Job Order (JO) personnel. However, those involved in the delivery of essential health services, campus security, and vital administrative functions that require physical presence shall be exempted in observance of the WFH arrangement.
2. Academic Leniency and Modality
Recognizing the significant impact of the strike on student mobility, the University mandates the following:
- Instructional Shift: Faculty members are encouraged to shift to synchronous or asynchronous modes to prevent students from being stranded.
- Mandatory Leniency: Students shall be afforded maximum leniency regarding attendance and the submission of academic requirements. No student shall be penalized for inability to participate due to transport or connectivity issues resulting from the strike.
3. Operational Continuity & Austerity
Despite the reduced onsite presence, the 10–20% energy and water reduction target remains in effect. Skeleton staff on duty are tasked with ensuring that non-essential equipment and utilities in their respective offices are powered down to meet the austerity goals necessitated by the global energy crisis.
The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) shall issue its own guidelines on appropriate work arrangement.