CEBU City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia responded to City Councilor Nestor Archival’s questioning of the mushroom-growing program by inviting him to teach the beneficiaries instead of just “barking.”
Meanwhile, Archival stated that the incumbent mayor is “dodging” the issue.
During an executive session held on April 2, 2025, Archival questioned the viability of the project, stating that several mushroom farming sites showed no visible output during his inspection.
Archival, who is himself a mushroom grower, had previously expressed concern over the program’s implementation, explaining that spawn production requires time and close monitoring.
In a press conference on Monday, April 7, Garcia asked Archival to teach the beneficiaries how to grow mushrooms.
“If I were him, since he is a public servant and known to be growing mushrooms… (and) with his experience in growing mushrooms and other plants there, I might as well ask him to just teach our beneficiaries how to grow mushrooms,” Garcia said.
“We can still help instead of just constantly barking,” he added.
Both Garcia and Archival are running for mayor in the upcoming May national and local elections.
Garcia believes Archival’s inquiry is motivated by the election season.
“It is the political season, and everybody is entitled to their own entertainment,” Garcia said.
He also denied allegations of vote buying through the mushroom initiative program.
“Is it not allowed to continue serving the people just because it’s election season? I will continue working even while I am also campaigning,” he said.
Meanwhile, Archival, in a phone interview on Monday, said the mayor’s suggestion is a way to avoid his criticism.
“Basically, his response to me was a diversion… he avoided the issue because there was nothing in there to defend himself with, as he’s wasting money,” he said.
Archival said he would be happy to teach the beneficiaries how to grow mushrooms, as he has the expertise.
However, he argued that Garcia implemented the project poorly from the start.
“What happened is, he made the project a failure from the beginning. There was no planning at all. So, what he did is just a waste of money,” he said.
“How can you teach these people when, in fact, we no longer have mushrooms because the money has already been used?” he added.
When asked if this issue would give him an advantage in the mayoral race, Archival expressed confidence, reiterating that Garcia has been wasting money. / JPS