The Cebu City government officially opened its Cebu City 24/7 Government Services, also known as the “Mayor of the Night,” at 5 p.m. on April 6.
The initiative allows night-shift workers—such as hospital staff and employees in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector—to avail themselves of government services typically offered only during daytime hours.
The round-the-clock service brings together at least six frontline government offices under one roof, located on the second floor of Cebu Exchange Tower on Salinas Drive in Barangay Lahug, directly across from Cebu IT Park—a 27-hectare business district with the largest concentration of BPO offices.
These include:
Slow but sure
Cebu City Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña, the initiative’s proponent, said the soft launch was intentional to allow for adjustments along the way.
He added that national agencies would be integrated in the coming days.
“No longer will you need to adjust your already stressful sleep schedule to government hours. The government is here to adjust to you,” he said.
During the launch, 10 national agencies committed to the program: Social Security System, Pag-IBIG Fund, PhilHealth, Bureau of Internal Revenue, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Philippine Postal Corporation, Land Transportation Office, Philippine National Police, and the Department of Labor and Employment.
According to Nanette Garong, officer-in-charge of the Mayor of the Night, the PSA is expected to officially join the hub on April 13.
Since its soft opening, there has been a steady flow of clients—mostly BPO workers—who visit during breaks or after shifts to complete pre-employment requirements.
She emphasized that services are open to everyone, including those settling traffic violations with the CCTO.
No holiday break
Operations are now fully round-the-clock, even on holidays.
“We are even open today (Araw ng Kagitingan). We don’t have holidays,” Garong said.
The busiest offices so far include the CTO (for cedula renewals), CHO (health card releases), and CCTO (traffic violations).
The hub is staffed by casual employees from the Office of the Vice Mayor, working eight-hour shifts under a three-shift system.
The Cebu City 24/7 government services—considered a first in the country—was institutionalized under Executive Order No. 027, Series of 2025. The program addresses concerns from the BPO sector, particularly absenteeism and the difficulty of completing requirements due to limited government hours.
By extending services into the night, the city aims to provide more convenient and efficient access for both night-shift workers and the general public.
BPO Capital of the South
The executive order notes that Cebu City is considered the “BPO Capital of the South,” being the largest BPO hub outside Metro Manila. The sector employs at least 270,000 people across more than 300 companies and remains a key economic driver.
The initiative is the brainchild of Osmeña, who began consultations with BPO executives and employees shortly after taking office in July 2025.
“Many people in Cebu City work outside regular office hours—nurses, delivery drivers, and thousands in the BPO industry. So why should government services be limited to daytime?” Osmeña said.
The order designates oversight and coordination mechanisms to ensure implementation without undermining the principle of separation of powers under the Local Government Code.
It also empowers the Vice Mayor’s Office to create or assign committees and personnel necessary for efficient implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
The 24/7 hub is expected to strengthen coordination among local and national agencies, reinforcing Cebu City’s push for innovation and inclusive governance. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
For inquiries, the public may contact 0927-744-4300.
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