OUTGOING Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia has expressed his support for the incoming administration’s plan to make City Hall services available 24/7. However, he suggested that mayor-elect Nestor Archival consider implementing a digital application as a more cost-effective alternative to physically opening offices overnight.
Garcia shared his perspective, noting that during his one-year term, his administration also explored the concept of a “sleepless” City Hall but envisioned it differently.
“I wish it well. But during the one year that I served, we also looked at this possibility and we looked at it in a way to provide the services needed but not necessarily opening offices in the evening,” Garcia said.
He proposed leveraging technology to facilitate transactions through a planned digital application they intended to call “Cebutizen.”
“It should have been through the app, as we are supposedly tech-savvy,” he added.
Garcia believes this digital approach would result in substantial savings on electricity and manpower costs.
“As a result, you save on electric costs, manpower costs; that has already been the plan,” he explained.
He attributed the non-actualization of the “Cebutizen” app during his term to his relatively short tenure in office.
“We just weren’t able to move forward with the app because I only served for one year. But I am very supportive of the new administration,” he said.
While supportive of the 24/7 service goal, Garcia expressed hope that the future administration might still pursue the digital app they started.
“Let it be; I’m still supportive of this plan. But maybe in the future, continue what I’ve started, which is creating the app,” he said.
Moreover, Garcia also expressed hope for cooperation from other government agencies, such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Social Security System (SSS) and Pag-Ibig Fund, among others, for the incoming administration’s plans that require inter-agency participation.
The push to make City Hall services available 24/7 reflects a growing trend among local government units in the Philippines to improve accessibility and convenience for residents. As more Filipinos demand faster and more flexible government services, digital transformation becomes a key strategy to meet these expectations efficiently.
Cebu City, one of the country’s major urban centers, has been actively pursuing modernization initiatives, including the adoption of e-governance tools. The proposed “Cebutizen” app aimed to streamline transactions and reduce the need for physical visits to government offices, aligning with broader national efforts to digitize public services.
Mayor-elect Archival’s plan to open City Hall offices overnight demonstrates a commitment to customer-centric governance but also poses challenges related to operational costs and manpower. Garcia’s suggestion to complement or replace physical 24/7 operations with digital platforms highlights the importance of sustainable and innovative solutions in public service delivery.
Inter-agency cooperation with National Government bodies like the BIR, SSS and Pag-Ibig Fund is crucial for the success of such initiatives, as many government transactions require coordination across multiple agencies. This collaborative approach is expected to enhance service integration and reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks. / JPS