Cebu City's ambitious plan to bring government services to night-shift workers has encountered significant bureaucratic obstacles, putting its immediate launch in doubt.
Logistical Hurdles Delay Night Services
The Mayor of the Night program, a pet project of Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña and institutionalized by Mayor Nestor Archival through Executive Order 027, Series of 2025 last October, aims to cater to the city's large population of night workers, particularly in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector. However, a recent executive session revealed a major stumbling block: key national agencies cannot deploy personnel for night duties without explicit approval from their central offices.
Councilor Pastor "Jun" Alcover Jr. highlighted the issue during a press conference on Friday, December 19. He explained that while agencies like the Social Security System (SSS), Pag-IBIG Fund, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and Land Transportation Office (LTO) support the concept, their local representatives lack the autonomy to assign staff to new night shifts. "It takes two to tango," Alcover stated, referencing Mayor Archival's encouragement for agencies to participate.
Questions of Demand and Direction
Beyond logistical issues, Councilor Alcover raised questions about the actual demand for such nighttime services among BPO employees. He cited feedback from the industry suggesting that most workers complete essential government clearances and filings, like NBI clearances, before they are hired. "For most BPO employees, prerequisites are already completed before they start working, so there's really no need," he argued.
Alcover also pointed out procedural gaps, noting the absence of formal memoranda of agreement with the national agencies and a lack of clear authority from the City Council for the mayor to sign such agreements. "That was when it became clear that the proposal was vague and had no clear direction," he said.
Proposed Alternatives and Official Response
As a more straightforward solution, Alcover proposed that the Cebu City Government focus on its own capacity. He suggested making City Hall services available 24/7, which would bypass the need to coordinate with national agencies and their administrative protocols.
In response, Mayor Archival emphasized that the program does not rely solely on national agencies to begin. "The city can and will start with what is within our mandate and capacity," he stated. He clarified that the program is about accessibility and responsiveness, not duplicating services, and that BPO workers still need city services like local permits and health consultations after being hired. Archival expressed confidence that more partners would join once the program's value is demonstrated, with the goal of making Cebu City work for everyone, regardless of their work shift.
