The Cebu City Council's budget and finance committee has put the brakes on a proposed P12.5-million lease agreement for the controversial "Mayor of the Night" program office space. The decision, announced on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, creates a significant hurdle for the administration's plan to extend City Hall services to night-shift workers.
Budget Committee Raises Legal Concerns
Committee chairman Councilor Dave Tumulak declined to endorse the lease contract, citing potential legal and budgetary compliance issues. The committee specifically warned that moving forward without securing a multi-year contracting authority (MYCA) could expose the city government to audit disallowances and financial liability.
The proposed 34-month lease would have covered office space at Cebu IT Park in Barangay Lahug from January 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028. This period aligns with the full term of elected local officials. The facility was intended to serve as the operational base for the Mayor of the Night program, which Mayor Nestor Archival institutionalized through Executive Order 027 signed on October 23, 2025.
Clashing Perspectives on Night Services
The program faces contrasting views between executive ambition and legislative caution. Mayor Archival defends the initiative as a "responsive, inclusive, and citizen-centered" necessity rather than a political project. He emphasizes that the facility would serve approximately 200,000 workers, particularly in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, who work night shifts and cannot access government services during regular hours.
"This is not for Tommy or any politician. This is for everyone," Archival stated, pushing back against political interpretations of the program.
However, Councilor Pastor "Jun" Alcover Jr. has emerged as a vocal critic, questioning the procedural approach. Alcover argues the city is "putting the cart before the horse" by securing a lease before the City Council has formally approved the Mayor of the Night program itself.
Legal Requirements and Next Steps
The delay stems from requirements under Republic Act 12009, the New Government Procurement Act. Section 9.1.4 of the law's Implementing Rules and Regulations mandates that procuring entities must secure MYCA before entering into multi-year contracts.
The MYCA serves as a critical fiscal safeguard that requires oversight body approval and locks in the total project cost as the approved budget for the contract. This prevents budget overruns and ensures the city can honor lease commitments in future years.
Interestingly, the City Legal Office had provided a favorable opinion on November 11, finding the lease "valid and in order" and consistent with law and public policy. However, even they recommended including MYCA-related conditions before final signing.
The proposed IT Park facility would have housed multiple frontline offices including:
- City Treasurer's Office
- Business Permits and Licensing Office
- City Health Department
- Civil Registrar
It would also have featured satellite desks for national agencies like SSS, Pag-Ibig Fund, LTO, Philippine Statistics Authority, and NBI.
For the executive branch to move forward, they must now:
- Justify the lease's long-term duration
- Secure the required MYCA from the Department of Budget and Management
- Submit the draft lease for final review by the City Legal Office
Only after completing these steps will the matter return to the City Council for final deliberation, leaving nighttime government services in limbo for Cebu City's substantial night-shift workforce.
