Online workers are thankful for the nighttime free co-working space at the lobby of the Bacolod Government Center (BGC) that opened Nov. 12 as recovery efforts continue in the aftermath of typhoon Tino.
“It really helps a lot, especially for us who work night shifts,” Jan Ray Develos, a 28-year-old virtual assistant and part-time choreographer from Barangay Cabug, said. “Since the typhoon hit, we’ve been struggling to pay for hotels and cafes just to have a stable connection and electricity — something our salary can barely sustain.”
“It’s a great setup, we feel comfortable here,” said Bless Vargas, 27, who registered online to secure a slot. “We’ve been lining up in cafés and spending over P500 a day just to stay connected. We really need this kind of support.”
Many online professionals have also been using the city’s co-working hub at Ayala Malls Capitol Central, which operates until 6:30 p.m. Recognizing the continued need for a workspace beyond those hours, the city opened the BGC lobby as a nighttime co-working extension.
The BGC co-working space will operate daily from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. until power is fully restored, the city said in a press release Nov. 13. It can accommodate up to 40 voice-based and 60 non-voice workers, who are advised to bring their own extension cords and work essentials.
Aside from free coffee and aircon, the city assured stable internet connectivity through PLDT and Globe, and a safe and conducive working environment for online professionals and residents affected by the outages.
“We know that these past days have been incredibly challenging, especially for virtual assistants and online workers. We understand how these power interruptions have impacted your livelihood,” Mayor Greg Gasataya said.
To reserve a slot, those interested may scan the QR code or visit tinyurl.com/BCGCCoWorkingSpace
“If you’ve reserved a slot and can’t make it, we’d appreciate it if you inform us ahead of time by replying to our confirmation email so we can give it to someone else in need,” Gasataya posted. “Please bring any proof of employment for us to ensure that the space is used by legitimate VAs and online workers, and a valid ID with Bacolod City residence. Be at the lobby at least 15 minutes before your indicated time, and practice Claygo (clean as you go).” ||
