The local government in Cebu City has already implemented its goal of "rightsizing" the city government's manpower which already affected at least 1,000 casual employees who are now unemployed.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama disclosed on Sunday that the local government's plan is to trim the number of employees — whether regular, casual or job order — to just 3,000 before his term ends in 2025.

However, he clarified that to prevent the matter from being politicized, the employees' work performance will be evaluated and those who pass will be retained while those who fail will go.

Rama stressed that he also wanted to streamline "online transactions" and go paperless on all offices and departments for easier business at City Hall as he eyes 27 departments in the local government to be connected online.

"We're pursuing doing an ease of doing business, and online too, as 27 departments are expected to be online, so there will less people coming to City Hall and because of that we are pursuing 'rightsizing' as a management prerogative," Rama said.

To recall, the Commission on Audit had found the number of City Hall employees to be "excessive" and regarded to be a "waste of money."

Rama, on the other hand, recalled when he first became mayor in 2010, the City Hall had around 4,000 employees which increased to 10,000 when the coronavirus pandemic struck under the late Mayor Edgardo Labella.

The rightsizing was supposed to start in October 2023, but Rama deferred it to 2024 so the employees would receive their Christmas bonus.

"The regular employees will not be affected by the downsizing since they cannot be terminated because of security of tenure unless, of course, there are grounds. Number two, for casuals, if they are not renewed, then they are terminated but they are not renewed. Non-renewal and termination are not the same. When it comes to job orders, it's the same with casuals," Rama said.

Based on the City's Human Resource Development Office data, Cebu City Hall has around 9,000 employees with more 4,000 are JOs, while 3,212 are casual employees, around 200 are co-terminus and 40-plus are contractual.

Only 1,400 individuals are regarded as regular employees and the Cebu City government has 3,888 plantilla or regular positions.