Telecommuting
TRAFFIC authorities, motorists and commuters, mostly workers and students, expect traffic congestion to “worsen” in the metropolis and other urban centers in the country.
This, after the resumption of face-to-face (F2F) or in-person classes in public and private schools and colleges and universities and many business firms are now in full operation.
Aware of this, Sen. Win Gatchalian has called on the country’s employers to implement the so-called “work-from-home” arrangement in Metro Manila and other urban areas.
A research showed that every year, Filipino motorists and other commuters spend about 98 hours or more than four days trapped in chaotic traffic jams in MM.
Telecommuting or work-from-home arrangement has numerous advantages that benefit not just concerned workers, according to highly-articulate Senator Gatchalian.
A major benefit of this work arrangement is that it will ease traffic congestion in the metropolis and other heavily-populated towns and cities across the country.
To encourage employers to implement telecommuting, the government ought to incentivize those who join the program.
Under Senate Bill (SB) No. 1149, employers shall be entitled to a deduction of P25 from their taxable income for every hour of service rendered under a work-from-home arrangement.
The bill considers as non-taxable benefit allowances or other benefits not exceeding P2,000 a month provided by employers to employees to cover expenses necessary for telecommuting.
Certainly, implementing a work-from-home arrangement is a move in the right direction.
