CEBU City Mayor-elect Nestor Archival expressed concern Thursday, June 26, 2025, over the late turnover of crucial financial documents by the outgoing administration, warning it may cause minor service disruptions as his team assumes office on Monday, June 30.
Garcia, for his part, said Archival was misinformed about the schedule, clarifying that the documents would begin arriving on Friday, June 27, with a ceremonial turnover of the mayor’s seal on Monday.
Archival told reporters after his oath-taking ceremony that his transition team had expected to receive the documents earlier this week. However, the outgoing administration scheduled the turnover at 8:30 a.m. on June 30, just hours before outgoing Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia’s term ends at noon.
“This compressed timeline will not give us enough time to review the voluminous documents and raise questions before the outgoing administration’s term ends,” Archival said.
The mayor-elect stressed that reviewing the City’s finances is essential to understanding the current fiscal state. “It will allow us to recognize and act ahead on the city’s financial condition,” he said.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government’s Memorandum 2025-016 mandates the creation of a Local Governance Transition Team (LGTT) but does not set a specific date for the meeting between incoming and outgoing teams. It does clarify that the incoming mayor’s transition team is distinct from the LGTT.
However, in a phone interview, Garcia disputed Archival’s statements. He said the incoming mayor was misinformed about the turnover schedule, saying that the documents would begin arriving Friday, June 27.
“There will be a ceremonial turnover of the mayor’s official seal on Monday, not the documents,” Garcia said.
The documents, according to Garcia, include Commission on Audit reports, governance assessment report, comprehensive development plan, local development investment program and annual investment program.
The other documents are capacity development agenda, executive legislative agenda, citizen’s charter, annual budget, procurement plan, gender and development accomplishment report, quarterly reports (including special education fund, trust funds, net tangible assets and Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund), devolution transition plan, personnel inventory and organizational structure.
Garcia said Archival’s team had been coordinating with department heads for nearly a month and had access to the information needed. He lamented being portrayed as uncooperative, saying, “It erases all the good things I’ve been doing for the past 30 or 60 days.”
“Citywide vision”
During the oath-taking at Plaza Sugbu, Vice Mayor-elect Tomas Osmeña and councilors-elect from the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan also were sworn in.
In his speech, Archival called on the public to support a collaborative effort in rebuilding Cebu City. “This is not a one-man job. This is a citywide vision,” he said.
Archival said he will work closely with Osmeña and the City Council to carry out immediate priorities, which include:
[] Relaunching the 24-hour operations of the Cebu City Public Library, first introduced in 2016.
[] Working with Governor-elect Pamela Baricuatro to open an access road between Capitol-owned lots in Cebu IT Park and Banilad to ease traffic on Gov. M. Cuenco Ave.
[] Ordering the Department of Public Services and Engineering Office to unclog drainage systems and desilt waterways, following flooding incidents in Metro Cebu on Wednesday evening.
[] Revamping garbage disposal practices by enforcing segregation at City Hall and converting plastic waste into fuel, in light of the city’s P600-million garbage cost and P100-million revenue.
[] Prioritizing food security by increasing the City Agriculture Department’s budget to support local food production.
The ceremony began with a mass at the legislative building led by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, followed by a processional march and an interfaith prayer.
Councilor-elect Sisinio “Bebs” Andales took his oath first, followed by Archival and his family. Other councilors-elect sworn in included Alvin Arcilla, Nice Archival, Michelle Abella and Jose Lorenzo Abellanosa. Councilor-elect Paul Labra was absent due to prior commitments.
Osmeña was sworn in last, accompanied by his family and Carbon Public Market vendors. / EHP