Mayor-of-the-night program ready to roll

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Government on Monday formally signed, with Eklestos Estates, the lease agreement for its pioneering 24/7 Government Office, known as the “Mayor of the Night” program, in a ceremony led by Mayor Nestor Archival at the Mayor’s Office yesterday.

The program, hailed as a landmark in local governance, seeks to extend frontline services beyond regular office hours, particularly for Cebu’s night-shift workers and the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.

Mayor Archival said the city is now ready to move forward with the program following the contract signing with Eklektos Estates Inc.

“Napirmahan na nato with the building. Nakita nato ang mga agencies nga gusto motabang—halos tanan nga national agencies nga niingon nga motabang. Ready na sad ang atong mga departments aron ma-set up didto. We’ll just wait for the completion sa furniture then we can readily start it already,” Archival said.

The “Mayor of the Night” office will be located at Cebu Exchange Tower, directly opposite Cebu IT Park, making it easily accessible to thousands of BPO employees and night-shift workers.

“Dali ra kayo paglabang,” Archival added, noting that the program may begin operations by the second week of March after further coordination with Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who is overseeing the preparations.

This development came following the Cebu City Council’s approval of a multi-year lease worth P5.1 million for Units A and B on the second floor of Cebu Exchange Tower in Barangay Lahug.

The lease covers a total area of 307 square meters and spans from February 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028.

The resolution, sponsored by Councilors Harold Go, Nyza Archival, and Rhea Mae Jakosalem, authorized Mayor Archival to finalize the agreement.

The amount includes rental costs and ensures that the “Mayor of the Night” program has a dedicated space to operate, with funding fully accounted for in the city’s budget.

The ceremonial signing drew wide participation from national agencies and private sector partners. Among those present were representatives from the Social Security System, PAG-IBIG Fund, PhilHealth, Bureau of Internal Revenue, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Statistics Authority, Philippine Postal Corporation, Land Transportation Office, Cebu City Police Office, and the Department of Labor and Employment.

Leaders from the Cebu’s BPO industry also signified their support, including AZPIRED BPO, Cebu Telenet Philippines, Shearwater Health, TechMahindra, TTEC, and Conduent, among others.

Vice Mayor Osmeña and several councilors likewise joined the event, affirming the Council’s backing for the program and its promise of strengthening government service delivery.

The “Mayor of the Night” program is anchored on Executive Order No. 027, Series of 2025, which created the Cebu City 24/7 Government Services initiative.

It was designed to bridge the gap between the traditional 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. government schedule and the needs of industries that operate through the night.

By institutionalizing round-the-clock public service, Cebu City positions itself as the first local government unit in the country to adopt such a model.

Through this initiative, Cebu City demonstrates its commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and partnership, ensuring that vital government services remain accessible to all sectors of society—day or night.

The program is expected to serve as a model for other cities nationwide, showing how local governments can adapt to the evolving needs of their constituents and the demands of a modern economy. — (FREEMAN)