MAGALLANES, Makati City — In a bid to help address heavy traffic congestion in Metro Manila, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is eyeing.

to place all national government agencies (NGAs) under the adjusted working hours implemented by local government units (LGUs) from 7:00 in the morning to 4:00 in the afternoon.

According MMDA Chairman Don Artes, they will be recommending this to President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Romualdez Marcos Jr. as a means to assuage the difficulties experienced by most during 'rush hour'.

“Isa sa mga consideration sa pag-recommend sa Pangulo na i-cover na rin iyong ating NGAs (national government agencies) sana kung papayagan para rin siguro makatulong sa decongestion kasi nakita natin sa mga LGUs na nag-implement mayroong substantial improvements sa travel time hindi lang ng sasakyan pati ng mga empleyado,” Artes enthused during yesterday's Metro Manila Council (MMC) meeting.

Last year in April , the MMC passed a resolution mandating the adjustment of working hours of LGUs an hour earlier from the regular office period from 8:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon.

“Siguro makakatulong iyan mapabawas lalo na sa public transport. Imagine mo, 500,000 iyong mga empleyado. Makakaiwas na sila sa pagsabay doon sa ibang bumabyahe. Dapat matapos yung recommendation bago masimulan yung rehabilitation ng Edsa,” Artes noted.

Based on a report by the MMDA during the council meeting, it is said that an estimated 223,508 government employee commuter use public transportation and shifting their work schedule an hour earlier would help them avoid joining the rush hour with private sector employees.

Moreover, the report pointed out that the earlier work hours to be implemented for government workers would lessen the number of vehicles on the road as 37.15 percent of the over 473,500 national government employees in Metro Manila use private vehicles during the rush hour.