City government, employees union agreement gets CSC certification

CEBU, Philippines — The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has formally registered and approved the first Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) between the Cebu City government and the Cebu City Government Employees Union (CCGEU), giving the historic accord full legal effect until 2030.

The certification, issued in late September, affirms that the CNA signed on September 7, 2026 will remain valid until September 2030, unless renegotiated or renewed.

The CNA itself was signed at City Hall early last month by Mayor Nestor Archival, representing the city government, and CCGEU President Vincent Mangle, representing the rank-and-file employees.

The Human Resource Development Office (HRDO), led by Henry Tomalabcad, facilitated the process, ensuring compliance with CSC requirements.

These included submission of four signed copies of the CNA, proof of ratification by a majority of employees, posting of the agreement in conspicuous places, certification of employee numbers, and payment of the registration fee.

During the signing, Archival stressed the significance of the milestone.

“This is the first-ever union and CNA in the history of the Cebu City government, and for me, this is more than just the signing of an agreement. It is a commitment to listen, to recognize, and to protect the rights and welfare of our rank-and-file employees,” Archival said.

He expressed gratitude to the CCGEU, HRDO, department heads, and the Cebu City Council for their cooperation in making the agreement possible.

For Mangle, the CNA represents a new chapter in employee-management relations.

CCGEU described the CSC certification as the “final seal of legitimacy” for the employees’ efforts.

The CNA provides a structured mechanism for employees to raise concerns about welfare, benefits, and working conditions, while management gains a formal avenue to address these issues constructively. — /MRM (FREEMAN)