Osmeña eyes “Mayor of the Night” expansion

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña is pushing to expand the city’s “Mayor of the Night” initiative, calling it a targeted response to long-standing challenges faced by call center workers and a strategic move to strengthen the city’s urban economy.

During a press conference, Osmeña said the program may be scaled up depending on demand, including possible support for mental health services and community-building activities for workers.

He said these efforts reflect a shift away from traditional governance focused on ceremonial activities toward more responsive and practical solutions that directly improve people’s lives.

“People don’t see it, but it is a very basic foundation of the economy,” he said, emphasizing why he is willing to prioritize the program.

Created under Executive Order No. 027, Series of 2025, “Mayor of the Night” was envisioned to extend government services beyond the traditional workday, particularly to address the needs of the city’s large night-shift workforce in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.

Osmeña said the program focuses on improving access to essential services for BPO employees—particularly those working night shifts—by bringing government services closer to them during hours when they are available.

Cebu’s setup, he noted, makes the initiative more feasible compared to other cities, as most BPO workers are concentrated in key business districts and are digitally connected, allowing for faster coordination and response.

“That’s why I’m doing Mayor of the Night—because of all these grievances. We will make life easier for you,” Osmeña said, referring to common concerns such as transportation, processing of documents like NBI clearances, and access to basic government services.

He added that the program is designed to be demand-driven, meaning services are based on what workers actually need rather than predetermined plans.

The vice mayor explained that one of the key issues the initiative aims to address is the high turnover rate in the BPO industry, where companies lose up to 20 to 30 percent of their workforce annually.

He said improving working conditions and accessibility of services could help retain employees and make the sector more attractive, especially for those who previously avoided call center jobs due to perceived difficulties.

Osmeña also placed the initiative within a broader economic context, stressing the significant contribution of the BPO industry to the country, generating billions of dollars annually and employing millions of Filipinos, many of whom come from the provinces.

He described the sector as a “backbone” of the urban economy that has long been overlooked despite its impact. (CEBU NEWS)