THOUSANDS of casual workers under the Cebu City Government have yet to return to work following the transition to Mayor Nestor Archival’s administration.
Human Resource Development Office head Henry Tomalabcad said on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, that about 1,400 of the 3,000 casuals have been reappointed. Job order (JO) workers, however, are still on hold.
Archival issued Memorandum 2025-0001 on Monday, June 30, enforcing a “No appointment, no work” policy starting Tuesday, July 1.
The mayor assumed office at 12 p.m. Monday. His first full day in office was on Tuesday.
The delay follows Archival’s disclosure of a projected P2 billion to P3 billion budget deficit, which he said requires cautious spending.
On Tuesday, some workers gathered at City Hall, hoping for renewal.
“Daghan kaayong gusto magpa-renew, pero akong giistoryahan tagsa-tagsa nga… deficit ta og mga P2 billion to P3 billion karon (Many are eager to be renewed, but I’ve told each of them that… we currently have a deficit of around P2 billion to P3 billion),” Archival said.
He added that renewing all would strain the City’s payroll.
Priority is given to workers in garbage collection, health services and daycare centers.
Tomalabcad said the HRDO is acting only on lists from the mayor’s office. Employees hired in 2018 and earlier were prioritized, while later hires remain under review.
Cebu City Hall has over 8,500 personnel, including regular, casual and JO workers. Around 2,000 regular employees and more reappointed casuals have resumed work.
JO renewals must be backed by project proposals from department heads and approved by the mayor’s office.
Archival earlier said no employee would be displaced and hinted at a three-month performance review. However, Tomalabcad said no such directive has been issued yet.
Under Civil Service rules, casual and JO appointments are non-permanent and subject to renewal. Transitions often bring changes in personnel priorities.
Tomalabcad confirmed that coterminous staff of the previous administration have been dismissed. / EHP