CEBU City Mayor Nestor Archival supports the City Council’s plan to review the procurement of a P3.97 million automatic transfer switch (ATS) project for Cebu City Hall’s electrical line.
In an interview Wednesday, July 30, 2025, Archival said the review is necessary following the City Council’s scrutiny of the project’s urgency and cost.
“Actually, I’m an (electrical) engineer, but I don’t know where they will put the ATS. It’s just right that the City Council has moved to review the project so we will know where it will be placed,” Archival said in Cebuano.
Archival said Cebu City Hall has an existing ATS, but he is not aware if it has been damaged by wear and tear and needs replacement or repair.
“The ATS has been there in my over 18 years as councilor. It’s possible that it might be already damaged, but we need to understand where they will put the project,” said Archival.
On Tuesday, July 29, the City Council deferred approval of a resolution endorsed by Councilor Joel Garganera charging P3.97 million to an account for the procurement of one unit lot panel ATS upon the request of the Department of General Services (DGS).
Instead of approving the resolution, the council set a closed-door executive session on August 12, inviting the DGS, other relevant departments, and private engineering experts to explain whether the project is necessary and urgent.
According to the DGS, the ATS provides an uninterrupted power supply when the primary energy source fails. It ensures continuous operation of critical systems and protects equipment from outages, surges, and other electrical disturbances.
The ATS switches automatically to backup power, such as a generator. It eliminates the need for manual switching and reduces the risk of human error.
During Tuesday’s regular session, Garganera said the equipment’s purpose is to ensure an uninterrupted power supply for the Executive Building, especially during power outages.
Garganera said the panel will also facilitate automatic transition between power sources, minimize downtime and reduce risks or damage during power shortages. He said the system helps protect crucial City Hall equipment, such as computers and servers.
However, other councilors raised questions regarding the request.
“I have read the purpose of the equipment, but is it necessary to buy it now? The equipment is about P4 million,” said Councilor Nyza “Nice” Archival, the mayor’s niece.
In questioning the project’s cost, the younger Archival said there is a need to review the expenses in terms of whether it is reasonable and required.
Councilor Harold Go questioned whether the ATS really protects equipment. Go said what it provides is seamless and automatic switching of power sources.
Go said an uninterrupted supply of power can be provided by another equipment called an uninterruptible power supply or UPS. He recommended a cheaper option using the manual transfer switch system. / EHP