The Cebu City Council has approved a multi-year lease agreement worth over P5.1 million for the city’s upcoming 24/7 “Mayor of the Night” service center at Cebu Exchange.
The resolution grants Mayor Nestor Archival the authority to sign the lease for Units A and B on the second floor of the Cebu Exchange Tower from Eklektos Estates Inc.
These units will serve as a one-stop government hub primarily catering to night-shift workers.
This approval formalizes the site for the pilot launch of the “Cebu City Government 24/7 Service (Mayor of the Night)” program, established under Executive Order No. 027, Series of 2025.
The lease agreement will span two years and five months, from February 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028.
The terms of the lease include staggered rental rates: P339,344.64 from February 2026 to January 2027; P354,009.38 from February 2027 to January 2028; and P369,407.34 from February 2028 to June 2028.
Budget documents presented to the council confirm that P5,111,550 is allocated for the 2026 rental expenses under the Office of the Vice Mayor.
Both the City Budget Office and the City Treasurer have certified the availability of funds for this purpose.
The lease was processed through negotiated procurement, in accordance with Section 35(i) of Republic Act No. 12009, or the New Government Procurement Act, which allows the leasing of privately owned properties for official use.
City officials explained that an inventory of government-owned properties revealed no suitable locations that were both accessible and secure for 24/7 operations near major business districts.
Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who is leading the initiative, said the funding will come from the savings of the Office of the Vice Mayor and the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
He noted that the combined savings from both offices over the past six months exceeded P600 million, with only around P5 million earmarked for this project.
Osmeña had previously considered rehabilitating a former restaurant space near the Waterfront Hotel, but this plan was abandoned after cost estimates showed that renovations would require approximately P4 million and take about six months to complete.
Leasing space at Cebu Exchange, located near Cebu IT Park, was deemed a more practical option, enabling faster implementation at a site close to a large concentration of business process outsourcing (BPO) companies.
Beyond logistical benefits, Osmeña described the program as an economic intervention. He pointed out the high turnover rates in the BPO industry and the challenges faced by night-shift workers who need to transact with government offices that operate only during regular daytime hours.
The program is envisioned as a test model for 24/7 governance, allowing residents to process documents and clearances outside regular office hours.
The executive order establishing the program highlights the growing population of night-shift workers in industries such as BPO, healthcare, hospitality, security, logistics, and manufacturing.
It also addresses challenges faced by these workers, including conflicts between their sleep schedules and government office hours, limited weekend services, safety risks when traveling after late shifts, and the reliance on paper-based, in-person transactions.
Under the pilot setup, participating city offices will include the City Treasurer’s Office, the Business Permit and Licensing Office, the City Health Department, and the City Civil Registrar.
National government agencies such as the Social Security System (SSS), Pag-IBIG Fund, PhilHealth, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Land Transportation Office (LTO), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are also encouraged to participate.
The program is set to run as a pilot for more than two years, with evaluation based on its operational feasibility and public reception, and it will conclude by the end of the current term of office. (LLP)
