Cebu City Mayor-elect Nestor Archival has already publicly outlined his priorities for when he assumes office on June 30, 2025. Archival will begin his three-year term as the 29th mayor of the City of Cebu on that date.
The officers of the Cebu News Workers and Community Cooperative (Cebu News Coop) for the Year 2025-2026, which I chair, had the privilege of being inducted into office on May 30, 2025, by Mayor-elect Archival. The ceremony took place at the Clubhouse of Club Filipino Inc. de Cebu in Ayala Business Park.
Following our simple induction ceremony, Mayor Archival gathered us for a pep talk. He discussed his plans to address and provide solutions for the city’s flooding, modernize waste disposal, improve traffic management and ensure access to quality education.
Archival’s party, BOPK, does not hold the majority in the City Council. Be that as it may, Archival remains positive that he can garner support for his initiatives from most councilors, given that they are his former colleagues. He was a number one councilor.
In an interview after Archival and Vice Mayor-elect Tomas Osmeña were proclaimed winners by the Commission on Elections, Archival stated, “My background as a farmer’s son, my life as an engineer and entrepreneur — these give me a unique perspective. I can relate to the masses and the business community. That’s my advantage.”
Mayor-elect Archival discussed traffic problems at length with us. He even encouraged us to provide input to help him accomplish his mission of improving traffic management.
Without being timid, and admittedly not being a traffic expert, I offered the mayor-elect some ideas, which I believe he was already aware of: the traffic problem boils down to two main issues. First, the majority of public and private motor vehicle drivers are undisciplined, if not uneducated, regarding traffic rules and regulations. Second, there are not enough wide roads to accommodate the increasing number of motor vehicles.
I know there will be experts in the mayor-elect’s think tank who will assist him and provide appropriate ideas or solutions for his to-do list once he assumes office on June 30. Archival brings an engineer’s mindset to public service: focused, solution-oriented and results-driven.
Out of my interest in traffic management — having once served as a member of the then Citom Traffic Board during the time of former mayor Alvin Garcia, and later as a consultant to the Office of the Mandaue City Mayor, the late Mayor Thadeo Ouano — I searched online for more ideas on traffic management. Here’s what I read and hope Archival will consider:
a) Upgrade public transportation systems, such as buses and modern PUJs, to be more efficient, reliable and comfortable. This could encourage people to ditch their private vehicles and opt for public transport instead.
b) Implement smart traffic management systems that optimize traffic light timing, reduce congestion hotspots and provide real-time traffic updates to commuters.
c) Promote walking, cycling and other non-motorized modes of transport by building pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.
d) Encourage ride-sharing and carpooling services to reduce the number of vehicles on the road.
e) Invest in road widening, bridge construction and other infrastructure projects to increase road capacity and reduce congestion.
f) Identify and develop alternative routes to divert traffic away from congested areas.
g) Implement parking fees, time limits and designated parking areas to discourage private vehicle use and encourage more efficient use of parking spaces.
h) Launch public awareness campaigns to educate drivers and commuters on the importance of traffic rules, road safety and responsible driving.
Likewise, we cannot achieve discipline on the road among drivers of all forms of motor vehicles and commuters if laws are not strictly enforced without fear or favor.
I was in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, in October 2024, attending a Rotary International conference. Believe me, I was truly amazed by its smart traffic management system. The traffic lights at every intersection were synchronized. I did not see a single police officer directing traffic on the road.
Here in Cebu, past administrations have failed to improve the traffic light system. While the contractor promised, if not bragged, that the latest traffic lights it installed at some of the city’s intersections were the best and compliant with international standards, they received failing grades when evaluated by the MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority).
With an engineer-businessman at the helm of Cebu City’s leadership, it is about time that the City acquires the latest smart traffic management systems. All intersections, big or small, should be equipped with the latest traffic lights so that traffic enforcers can be relieved of traffic direction duties and focus on enforcing the City’s traffic ordinances and apprehending violators.