Cebu City Hall workers reminded to strictly observe ‘no noon break’ policy

Local

CEBU City government employees are being reminded to keep frontline services running during lunch hours so residents can continue transacting with government offices from noon to 1 p.m.

The reminder comes after a proposed resolution cited complaints and observations from the transacting public about government service windows being closed or left unmanned during the customary noon break.

The City Council is urging government offices in Cebu City to strictly observe the “No Noon Break” policy through a proposed resolution filed by Councilor Francis Esparis.

The measure calls for continuous service during regular working hours, particularly for residents who can transact with government only during the lunch period.

Esparis said government agencies operating on regular working hours or flexible schedules are required under Civil Service Commission (CSC) rules and related guidelines to ensure continuous service delivery during lunch breaks.

This may be done through a skeletal workforce or staggered meal breaks, allowing employees to take their lunch without completely shutting down frontline services.

The resolution said closing or leaving service windows unmanned during the noon break can result in delays, longer queues, and inconvenience for citizens, particularly workers and laborers who have limited time to attend to government transactions.

The “No Noon Break” policy is intended to ensure that government services remain accessible throughout official working hours rather than requiring the public to wait until employees return from lunch.

Under the proposed resolution, the City Council would urge all government offices in Cebu City to observe the policy “to serve the people better.”

The measure does not propose a change in the official working hours of city government employees. Instead, it emphasizes the need to organize personnel schedules so frontline services continue even while employees take their required meal breaks.

The proposal comes as government offices continue to handle transactions involving permits, clearances, certifications, payments, and other public services that often require residents to appear in person.

For residents who work regular daytime hours, the lunch period can be one of the few opportunities to complete government transactions without missing an entire workday.

The proposed resolution therefore seeks to reinforce continuous public service during the noon period and prevent the temporary closure of frontline offices from adding to waiting times and delays for the transacting public.(TGP)