Weekend operations expanded for government services
In a move aimed at improving access to essential services, the City Government of Lapu-Lapu City has extended the operating hours of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and the City Health Office (CHO) to include Saturdays and Sundays.
The new schedule, which came into effect on Aug. 23, 2025, sees both offices operating from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with the CHO treatment center extending its hours further to 2 p.m. on Sundays.
The decision to extend the operating hours was made to address the pressure during weekdays and provide better healthcare access, according to CHO head, Agnes Realiza. This move is expected to alleviate patient congestion, as evidenced by the more even distribution of patient visits throughout the week since the new schedule was implemented on the second week of August.
The CHO treatment center provides a range of healthcare services, including interventions for children and youth in need of rescue, which are now available on weekends. The CSWDO, on the other hand, offers medical and financial assistance for crisis situations, burial assistance, and other humanitarian programs.
In addition to these services, the city management, CSWDO, and CHO are planning to extend their services to the island barangay of Olango.
In an effort to maximize existing personnel, neither the CHO nor the CSWDO plans to add staff to handle the work on weekends. Realiza, the CHO head, believes that the new operating hours have contributed to a more even distribution of patient visits throughout the week, ensuring that the offices can continue to provide quality services despite the increased demand.
Previously, Mondays were marked by a surge in patients at the CHO treatment center, a trend Realiza attributed to the lack of weekend operations. With the extended hours, the CHO aims to ease this pressure, providing a more consistent service to the community.
This extension of services is a significant step towards improving the overall wellbeing of the Lapu-Lapu City community, ensuring that essential services are accessible to all, seven days a week.
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