THE Cebu City Government has hired over 200 new casual employees this month, even as it faces a projected P6 billion budget deficit and even as Mayor Nestor Archival has frozen the renewal of thousands of job order (JO) personnel.
City Hall’s Human Resource Development Office (HRDO) has confirmed that 235 new casual employees have been hired as of Tuesday, July 22, 2025, despite an ongoing hiring freeze. This brings the City’s total number of casual employees to more than 2,400 under the new administration.
HRDO head Henry Tomalabcab said the 235 new casual workers were hired alongside 59 re-employed personnel and 2,150 renewed casuals.
He added that the “No Appointment, No Work” policy was still in effect for the renewal of JO workers.
Tomalabcab explained that the HRDO was still waiting for the detailed project proposal and manpower requests from department heads, along with Archival’s approval, to be used as a basis for the hiring or rehiring of JO personnel which are project-based.
He said some departments have reportedly already received the Mayor’s go-signal for the hiring of JOs, but the HRDO has yet to receive the endorsements for processing the contract renewals.
He said department heads also have the discretion to recommend the renewal of existing casuals, especially practicing professionals such as nurses and accountants. The hiring of new casuals is strictly under the Office of the Mayor.
Cebu City Hall currently employs over 8,500 workers, including regulars, casuals, and JO personnel.
Budget deficit
Under the previous administration of mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, the City Government hired about 2,900 casual employees, around 3,000 JO workers, and approximately 2,000 regular employees.
“For the new hires, we have given the Office of the Mayor discretion on who to endorse or hire because we have a list from all councilors to leaders in the barangays. No department head will introduce a new hire,” Tomalabcad
said in Cebuano.
“The Mayor and I have agreed that we will not accept any other endorsements or applications. They must all come from the mayor, and only the chief of staff will bring the documents here to HR,” Tomalabcad added.
Upon his assumption on July 1, Archival revealed a projected budget deficit of P2 billion to P3 billion, prompting the stringent hiring and renewal process and a hiring freeze issued through Memorandum No. 2025-0001 or the “No Appointment, No Work” policy.
In the weeks that followed, Archival said the projected deficit was now actually P6 billion.
On Monday, July 21, Archival said the renewal of JO personnel will be on a case-to-case basis, and reappointments will be based on need and merit.
The Mayor issued the statement after Councilor Jun Alcover filed a resolution requesting him to immediately renew trained and experienced responders from the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO), citing their vital life-saving functions and city-funded training.
The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Cebu City Government for hiring 264 JO personnel in 2024, many of whom performed duties meant for regular employees — a practice that violates Civil Service laws.
In its report, the COA said Cebu City’s heavy reliance on JO contracts, instead of permanent appointments, could compromise the quality of public service and disregard the merit-selection principle in government employment.
Government auditors also found that many of the City’s JOs lacked the skills and experience required for positions that should be filled by permanent staff. / EHP