Cebu City Mayor-elect Nestor Archival would be facing gargantuan issues or problems the city is currently facing like flooding, garbage, sanitation, traffic and more when he assumes office on June 30, 2025 as the 29th mayor of the once Queen City of the South.
This early, Mayor-elect Archival has started the ball rolling by meeting with the City’s different department heads and other agencies to get to know them and gather information on issues in their offices’ state and performance.
But Archival, in an earlier statement, said his top priority is a clean and orderly city, focusing on major thoroughfares. Given the city’s issues with garbage, flooding and traffic, here are some potential priorities for his administration that he could perhaps give a glimpse and due consideration.
Urban Planning and Infrastructure: Complete the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit project to alleviate traffic congestion; implement effective waste management systems to address garbage issues; and develop flood-control measures to mitigate the impact of flooding.
Further, on the problem of sanitation and garbage, all that the mayor-elect would do is strictly enforce the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 2003, otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which for the past several years have not been carried out, if not intentionally ignored. Compliance by the barangays of RA 2003 is so lackadaisical.
Likewise, Archival should pursue what he suggested to Cebu Gov.-elect Pam Baricuatro to finish the highway that will traverse the mountain ridges from the City of Naga to the south to Danao City in the north that was halted by Gov. Gwen Garcia to lessen the volume of motor vehicles that pass through the metro cities going to the north of Cebu and vice versa.
On financial management: Conduct an in-depth review of the City’s financial standing to ensure sustainable development and safeguard city data to prevent loss or corruption.
Public health and safety: Support the inter-agency task force against mpox (monkeypox) to prevent local outbreaks and enhance public services to ensure citizens’ well-being.
Governance and transparency: Foster a collaborative relationship with department heads and stakeholder and ensure transparency in city operations and decision-making processes.
By addressing these areas, Archival’s administration can work towards creating a more livable and sustainable Cebu City and restore its past glory as the Queen City of the South.
However, Mayor-elect Archival is not a “Superman” who can tackle all these priorities alone. He will require the full support and cooperation of the City Council on matters of funding and budget appropriations. The next City Council, a diverse group of councilors from three political parties, could either make or break the Archival administration’s priorities over the next three years.
Nevertheless, with the support of Vice Mayor-elect Tomas Osmeña, who I believe still possesses significant power of persuasion once he assumes the responsibility as the council’s presiding officer, there’s hope. Osmeña, as the founder of his party Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), could undoubtedly bring some of these city councilors back into the BOPK fold, where many began their political careers. Similarly, Archival, having served as a city councilor for decades, could easily convince his former colleagues to support his efforts for the city’s best interest and its people.
After all, if the elected councilors are true to their pledges made to voters during the election campaign, they should set aside their political affiliations and support the Archival administration’s priorities. This support, however, should not come at the cost of vigilance against any potential wastage of taxpayers’ money.