AS PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. prepares to deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, July 28, 2025, Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival will be closely watching for crucial national policy directions that will impact the local level.
Archival confirmed on Friday, July 25, that he will not attend the Sona in person due to short notice and lack of an invitation.
Mayor Archival’s focus for the Sona spans several critical areas:
* Economic implications: He will be scrutinizing the economic fallout from Marcos’s recent meeting with US President Donald Trump, specifically the new 19 percent tariff rates (down from 20 percent) imposed on Philippine exports. Archival questions whether the P3 billion in aid from the Trump administration will adequately offset the tariffs, especially since the Philippine government will impose a zero percent tariff rate on certain US imports following Marcos’s White House visit. “Is this really enough to offset the tariffs he imposed?” Archival queried.
* Environmental plans: As a known environmentalist, Archival anticipates hearing the President’s strategies for environmental care during his remaining three years in office.
* Subsidized rice program: The mayor seeks updates on the expansion of the P20/kilo subsidized rice program. This initiative began in Cebu Province last May and is slated for implementation in Cebu City next year. While Marcos pledged a P20/kilo rice price during his 2022 campaign, this year he launched a program where the National Government and participating local government units split the cost of well-milled NFA (National Food Authority) rice for selected beneficiaries.
* Housing program: Archival also looks for progress reports on the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing Program (4PH), a socialized housing initiative. He noted its slow implementation in the city despite the local government’s capacity to share costs. In 2023, Marcos led the groundbreaking for the South Coastal Urban Development Project at Alumnos, Basak San Nicolas, which envisions 10 20-story buildings on a 25-hectare site. However, civil works for the project have yet to materialize. Marcos’ 4PH program aims to reduce the millions of housing backlogs through subsidized monthly amortization.
* Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT): Archival awaits the President’s statements on the CBRT project, a significant infrastructure undertaking for Cebu City. Despite Marcos breaking ground on Package 1 of the CBRT project in 2023, delays have marred its targeted completion, including a halt of a portion in front of the Cebu Provincial Capitol building due to potential heritage violations.
Locally, the CBRT project is seeing a shift in its implementation strategy. Archival confirmed an agreement with Vice Mayor Osmeña, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon and Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro to commence a bus trial run in September. Archival, as part of the Cebu City Government team, aims to complete Package 1 of the projects as quickly as possible. The contractor has assured him of prompt completion, particularly regarding the elevation of edges, which Secretary Dizon has approved and is expected by September. The trial run might begin on Sept. 15, with Dizon promising results within one month. For the time being, there will be no bus station in the Capitol area, and the City is considering installing suitable structures in the center of the dedicated lane. Archival is also re-evaluating the installation of barriers, which have caused accidents before, in coordination with the transportation department, weighing their advantages and disadvantages before a final decision.
Mandaue City’s hopes
In Mandaue City, Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano hopes President Marcos will use the Sona platform to reassure the public about his administration’s direction and extend support for local healthcare and education.
In a media interview, Ouano acknowledged the demanding nature of the presidency and the public scrutiny it entails.
He said Marcos should clearly communicate how inflation and other challenges have influenced the government’s efforts to meet its objectives and should work to deliver on programs and projects proposed at the beginning of his term.
“As long as he can fulfill the majority of what he promised during the last election, the people across the whole Philippines will probably be happy,” Ouano said in Cebuano.
He also pointed out that national-level political tensions, particularly the strained relationship between President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte, have posed challenges to effective governance. Despite these, the mayor expressed optimism that the two leaders would eventually reconcile, emphasizing the need for unified leadership throughout their term until 2028 to ensure seamless coordination between national and local governments.
In light of local initiatives, Ouano called on the President for additional funding for the Mandaue City Hospital and Mandaue City College, highlighting that the current city budget is insufficient to meet growing demands in health and education. / EHP, DPC