To: Undersecretaries
Assistant Secretaries
Bureau Directors
Directors of Services/Centers and Heads of Units
Regional Directors
Schools Division/City Superintendents
Heads, Public Elementary and Secondary Schools
All Others Concerned

1. For the information and guidance of all concerned, enclosed is a copy of Administrative Order (AO) No. 126 dated August 13, 2005 from the Office of the President entitled “Strengthening Measures to Address the Extraordinary Increase in World Oil Prices, Directing the Enhanced Implementation of the Government’s Energy Conservation Program, and for Other Purposes.”
2. In adherence to this directive, all heads of offices, officials and employees of DepED are advised to strictly abide by the following austerity measures contained in said AO to ensure the efficient utilization of resources in their respective units:
   1. Reduction of fuel consumption for transport by ten percent (10%) of the average monthly consumption for the 1st semester of 2005; and
   2. Limited use of government vehicles to essential activities and where officials shall review their travel program/schedules to minimize unnecessary trips.
3. Further, pursuant to previous Administrative Orders (No. 103, s. 2004 and No. 110, s. 2004) and DepED Order No. 61, s. 2004 on the adoption of austerity measures in government, each office is still directed to generate at least 10% savings in the consumption of fuel, water, office supplies, electricity and other utilities.
   1. In the Central Office, each unit/division/office is to strictly adhere to the following energy and utility conservation measures:
      1. Airconditioning units shall be switched on not earlier than 9:00 am and switched off not later than 4:00 pm. During lunch breaks, airconditioning units shall be switched on “FAN” mode;
      2. Lights are to be shut off during lunch hours, lights and airconditioning units are to be switched off whenever offices are vacant; and
      3. General Services Division is directed to move around daily and check all bathrooms for running water and/or leaks which are to be repaired immediately.
   2. Overtime for non-teaching staff is to be limited to no more than 10% of Personal Services (PS) per month. In the Central Office, each office is to submit to the Undersecretary (Finance and Administration) the projected overtime to be rendered with specific purposes, time periods, etc.
      1. There shall be no overtime on Saturday except with written approval of the Undersecretary in-charge of the unit. The authority to render overtime on Saturday shall be date and task-specific. For approved overtime on Saturday, airconditioners shall be limited to 9:00 am to 12:00 noon; and
      2. No office will be open to working staff on Sundays.
   3. c. Field offices and schools are strongly encouraged to implement similar initiatives to pursue the intensified energy conservation efforts nationwide.
4. To effectively implement the above measures and pursuant to AO 110 (2004), the department shall create the Energy Conservation Unit, chaired by the Head of the Administrative Service at the DepED Central Office who is hereby designated as DepED’s “Energy Conservation Officer” (ECO). The ECO shall be responsible for the development and realization of energy efficiency and conservation measures, which will form part of the department’s Government Energy Management Program (GEMP).
   1. The Energy Conservation Unit shall be composed of the chiefs of the General Services Division (GSD) and Property Division, and selected staff/personnel from among offices under the Administrative Service;
   2. Energy Conservation Sub-Units shall likewise be created in all field offices.
      Regional offices shall submit a monthly report of compliance (covering the consolidated reports of its respective schools, districts and division offices), not later than the 10th day following the reporting month, to the ECO to monitor and ensure the strict compliance of the office with DepED’s GEMP; and
   3. The ECO shall then firm up the summary report with accounts of compliance at the central level. The monthly report shall then be forwarded to the Department of Energy not later than the 15th day following the reporting month.
5. All Offices are directed to cooperate fully in this national energy conservation effort.
6. Immediate dissemination of and compliance with this Order is directed.

Encl.:
As stated
References:
DepED Orders: Nos. (61, s. 2004) and 47, s. 2005
Allotment: 1—(D.O. 50-97)

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
BUREAUS & OFFICES
LEGISLATIONS
POLICY

DO_s2005_054