Archival bars ‘unappointed workers’ from City Hall

Local

NO appointment, no work.

CEBU City Mayor Nestor Archival Sr. has formally enforced a strict “No Appointment, No Work” policy at City Hall, barring all casual and project-based personnel without official appointments from reporting to work starting Monday, July 1, 2025.

In a memorandum dated June 30, Archival instructed department heads and administrative officers to prevent unappointed workers from entering government offices and accessing city resources such as computers and files.

“All casual and project-based personnel with no appointments should not be allowed to report for work,” the memo stated. “This is in strict adherence to the ‘No Appointment, No Work’ policy of the Cebu City Government.”

Archival anchored the directive on Omnibus Rules on Appointments and Other Human Resource Actions (Revised July 2018), which holds that “the services rendered by any person who was required to assume the duties and responsibilities of any position without an appointment... shall not be credited nor recognized by the Commission and the payment of salaries and other benefits shall be the personal liability of the person who made him/her assume office.”

Henry Tomalabcad, head of the Human Resource Development Office (HRDO), confirmed on Wednesday, July 2, that the memo is in effect and must be strictly followed.

“Naay memo gikan ni Mayor nga likayan ang casual ug JO nga mosulod kung walay appointment kay ang department head na ang manubag sa ilang sweldo,” Tomalabcad said.

The directive is part of a broader effort by Archival to assess and rationalize the city’s workforce in light of what he earlier described as a looming financial crisis.

On his first day in office on July 1, Archival revealed that the city government was grappling with a projected budget deficit of P2 billion to P3 billion.

He said this was the reason behind the temporary halt in contract renewals and new hiring.

“Daghan kaayong gusto magpa-renew, pero akong giistoryahan tagsa-tagsa nga for the meantime, naa koy gitan-aw nga report nga deficit ta og mga P2 billion to P3 billion karon,” Archival said.

“Kung ato ni silang tanan i-renew, dili gyud ta kasweldo,” he added.

The mayor said his administration would take the week to review the city’s finances and prioritize critical services.

“Until Friday, tan-awon sa nato ang financial health sa syudad. Mao man ni ang gasolina nga maka-padayon ta sa serbisyo,” he said.

Tomalabcad reported that around 1,400 casual employees have so far been renewed, based on the list endorsed by the mayor. Cebu City Hall employs over 8,500 workers, including regular, casual, and job order (JO) employees.

At present, only casual personnel are being considered for renewal. JO workers must submit project proposals through their department heads for review and approval by the mayor.

“Ang sabot namo ni Mayor, dili mi mudawat og laing endorsement or application. Kinahanglan gikan gyud sa mayor, ug ang chief of staff ra ang mudala sa mga dokumento diri sa HR,” Tomalabcad said.

He noted that daily updates would follow as more names are processed, and the HRDO hopes to retain at least 60 percent of the existing workforce.

Among those under review are long-serving casual employees who have already completed 13 years of service, just two years short of qualifying for Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) retirement benefits.

“Gihangyo namo sa mayor nga taga-an sila og humanitarian consideration, aron makakompleto sila og 15 years. Para inig-edad nila ug 60, naa silay pension nga paaboton,” Tomalabcad said.

While there has been no final approval, Archival reportedly responded positively to the proposal.

Tomalabcad assured the public that essential frontline workers such as doctors, nurses, midwives, and dentists assigned at Cebu City Medical Center and the City Health Department were not affected by the employment freeze.

“Safe ra na sila. Wala hilabti ang critical personnel,” he said.

When asked about possible ghost employees discovered during the transition period, Archival said it was too early to say.

“I cannot say that right now. There might be—but dili ko muingon nga naa, kay wala pa man nahibaw-i,” he said.

Previously, Archival said all City Hall employees would stay in place for up to three months while his administration conducts a full review of the city’s finances and human resources.(TGP)