Marcos Jr.’s Hypocrisy Alleged: Austerity for Workers, Excesses for Elites

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. arrived in New York City on March 8 for a working visit, addressing the UN’s 70th Commission on the Status of Women and meeting António Guterres. (PCO) / (Facebook)

Marcos Jr.’s Hypocrisy Alleged: Austerity for Workers, Excesses for Elites

By Bing Jabadan – TheNATIONWEEK.com | March 11, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration is facing a firestorm of criticism over Mandate Circular No. 114, a new directive imposing a four-day onsite work week and stringent energy conservation measures on the public sector. 

Public sector unions are vehemently condemning the order as “superficial” and a blatant act of “hypocrisy,” arguing it unfairly punishes frontline government workers while allegedly shielding pervasive corruption and “energy-intensive excesses” within the elite.

The Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK), a prominent union alliance, acknowledges the principle of energy efficiency but lambasts MC 114 as a mere “stopgap” solution. 

“This circular disproportionately shifts the burden onto government employees,” PSLINK stated, “rather than addressing the fundamental structural issues underlying the country’s energy challenges and, more disturbingly, diverting attention from massive systemic corruption.”

“Killing Us”: The Burden on Minimum Wage Earners

For the nation’s most vulnerable government workers, particularly those under job order (JO) and contract of service (COS) arrangements, the four-day work week is not an efficiency measure but a direct threat to their survival.

“One day less per week, a total of four days a month, has a huge impact on our monthly budget,” lamented an anonymous JO clerk.

 “This is not helping us; it’s killing us.” These workers, often earning minimum wage, face immediate and significant income loss, further precariousizing their already fragile financial stability.

PSLINK pulls no punches, labeling the directive a “double standard and deep hypocrisy.” The union points to ongoing, unaddressed allegations of “massive systemic corruption in flood control ghost projects” – potentially multi-billion-peso scams – as a stark contrast to the austerity imposed on ordinary workers. 

“Workers should not bear the cost of policy failures, inefficient infrastructure, and a longstanding culture of corruption,” PSLINK asserted, highlighting that “energy-intensive excesses continue at the highest government levels with little consequence.”

Health Risks and Suppressed Dissent Concerns

Beyond the immediate financial strain, unions are raising serious alarms about occupational health and safety. 

Reduced air conditioning and lighting in already “poorly ventilated, overcrowded workspaces” could lead to increased “heat stress, fatigue, and decreased concentration.” 

This not only jeopardizes worker well-being but could also compromise the quality of essential public services, harming vulnerable citizens seeking assistance.

Furthermore, a chilling concern has emerged: fears that MC 114 could be misused to “restrict union meetings” and legitimate organizing activities under the guise of energy conservation. This potential for stifling dissent adds another layer of apprehension among public sector employees.

Demands for Genuine Reform and Accountability

PSLINK is not merely criticizing but demanding comprehensive structural reforms. Their call to action includes:

• Prioritizing and investing in green infrastructure.
• Aggressively expanding renewable energy sources.
• Ensuring adequate and transparent funding for energy programs.
• Guaranteeing occupational safety and health standards.
• Protecting JO/COS workers from any form of wage loss.
• Safeguarding union rights and the freedom to organize.
• Promoting genuine accountability in government spending and combating corruption.
• Establishing a long-term, sustainable energy roadmap for the nation.

“Energy conservation must not be a cover for austerity on workers while structural reforms and accountability at the highest levels remain unaddressed,” PSLINK concluded. They warn that the current directive risks not only worker welfare but also the erosion of public trust in government.

Marcos Seeks Emergency Powers for Fuel Tax Suspension Amid Global Turmoil

In a separate but related development, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is poised to certify as urgent a bill that would grant him emergency powers to suspend excise taxes on petroleum products. 

This legislative push comes amidst rapidly escalating global fuel prices, exacerbated by heightened conflict in the Middle East.

Marcos confirmed his intention, stating he would formally request Congress to expedite the bill once committee reports are finalized and plenary debates commence. 

The proposed emergency powers would be triggered when the average price of international oil breaches the $80 per barrel mark for a continuous month.

House Speaker Faustino Dy and House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos have already filed a bill seeking these crucial emergency powers. 

Concurrently, Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson have affirmed their prioritization of similar legislative proposals in the upper chamber.

Recent escalations in the Middle East, including reports of US and Israeli missile strikes against Iran targeting military facilities and the alleged killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have further intensified global oil supply concerns, underscoring the urgency of the administration’s request.