The City of Cebu marked its 89th Charter Day celebration on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

There is no Charter Day bonus for City Hall employees this year because of a strong warning from the Commission on Audit (COA).

The Cebu City Government initiated a simple celebration for its 89th Charter Day that opened with a Holy Mass, and a short program led by Mayor Nestor Archival.

Along with the director of the Cebu City Police Office and representative of the Vice Mayor’s Office, Archival paid tribute to Don Vicente Rama, Father of the Cebu City Charter, in front of his monument.

Policemen honored Rama with a 21-gun salute.

City councilors, department heads, and employees of the Cebu City Hall also attended the event, along with personnel from various government agencies.

In his short message, Archival emphasized the significance of the creation of Cebu City.

Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña sent his chief of staff, Raymond Paul Taboada, to read aloud his message. Osmeña reportedly has another commitment.

Meanwhile, employees of the Cebu City Hall will not receive any Charter Day bonus for the first time.

Earlier, Councilor Dave Tumulak, chairman of the Council Committee on Budget, said that this is because of COA's strict warning.

COA has flagged the budget for Charter Day bonuses in 2023 and 2024 through the issuance of a Memorandum of Notices of Suspension.

To recall, City Hall employees received P35,000 Charter Day bonus in 2025.