Archival’s first 100 days: Inventory, garbage cost cut, anti-flood plans

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival Sr. and former mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia posed for a photo on Monday, June 30, during the transition ceremony. | CDN Photo/ Pia Piquero

CEBU CITY, Philippines — On his first day in office, newly sworn-in Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival Sr. hit the ground running with a clear set of priorities for his administration’s first 100 days.

This includes everything from initiating a city-wide inventory of government assets to easing traffic congestion, tackling flooding, and reducing waste spending.

Archival, who officially took over the city’s top post from now former mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia during a transition ceremony on Monday, June 30, laid out his early plans in an interview shortly after the noontime turnover.

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Foremost on his agenda is a comprehensive inventory of all city-owned properties and vehicles, including those loaned to barangays and city councilors.

“Ang mga tanang properties, vehicles sa syudad, gusto nako mahibal-an unsay status,” Archival said. “So I would understand pila nasad atong gamiton para ma-rehabilitate… apil ang mga city vehicles. I understand also naay mga vehicles nga gipahulam sa barangay… if naay request, ihatag.”

(I want to know the status of all the city’s properties and vehicles. So I would understand how much we need to spend for rehabilitation… including the city vehicles. I also understand that some vehicles were loaned to the barangays… if there’s a request, then give it.)

He clarified that what he is initiating is not a “recall,” but an inventory.

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Archival also said that department heads will be required to report on the condition and completeness of the assets turned over to them.

“Ang akong buhaton is i-turnover sa mga department heads ang ilang nakuha nako, ug tan-awon nako unsay ilang report—especially sa atong financial status,” he said. “Daghan man gud ang mga tawo nga angay nato i-renew, or tanan man gani. But if ang health sa atong finances dili kaayo… tan-awon nato unsaon pagbahin-bahin.”

(What I’ll do is turn over to the department heads what they received from me, and I’ll check their reports — especially regarding our financial status. There are a lot of people we may need to renew, maybe even all of them. But if the health of our finances isn’t that good… we’ll have to see how we can manage the allocation.)

He said he has already asked all department heads to submit a list of employees currently on a skeleton workforce to assess the city’s staffing situation moving forward.

Even before assuming office, Archival had already announced several initiatives to be executed right away. Among these are: the opening of a 24-hour public library, the clearing of major roads and flood-prone areas, and the beginning of key environmental and infrastructure projects

“First, open ang 24-hour nga public library. I-open nato ang road gikan sa IT Park padulong sa Banilad — that was the agreement with Governor-elect Pam Baricuatro aron maka-ease sa traffic,” he said.

(First, we’ll open the 24-hour public library. We’ll also open the road from IT Park to Banilad — that was the agreement with Governor-elect Pam Baricuatro to help ease traffic.)

The city’s recent flooding prompted him to order immediate desilting of waterways, assigning the Department of Public Services and the Engineering Office to conduct clean-up operations.

“Kay sige naman ug uwan karon, akong tagaan direktiba ang DPS, Engineering aron ma-desilt ang kasapaan. Kato gahapon nag-ulan, nagbaha — so first order of the day: paninghuhaon, madali ug desilt ang kasapaan,” Archival added.

(Since it’s been raining a lot lately, I will issue a directive to the DPS and the Engineering Office to desilt the rivers. It rained yesterday and there was flooding — so the first order of the day is to urgently and thoroughly desilt the waterways.)

Archival also raised concern over Cebu City’s spending on garbage disposal, which he said has reached unsustainable levels.

“Ang atong syudad dako kaayo ug gasto sa garbage — P600 million per year, unya ang atong revenue is only P100 million. Dako kaayo ug deficit,” he said.

(Our city spends a huge amount on garbage — P600 million per year, while our revenue is only P100 million. That’s a massive deficit.)

To reduce this, he vowed to strictly implement waste segregation, starting at City Hall.

“Kinhanglan atong pasigdahan ang segregation sa tibuok syudad… unahon ang City Hall, kinahanglan ang City Hall example sa segregation,” he added.

(We need to strictly implement segregation across the entire city… starting with City Hall. City Hall must set an example when it comes to segregation.)

He said he plans to partner with groups willing to buy recyclables and organize officials to ensure proper solid waste management practices are observed.

“Katong recyclables pangitaan paagi nga naay usa ka kampanya mopalit sa plastics, atong i-organize ang officials para makahibaw,” he said.

(As for the recyclables, we’ll find a way to partner with a campaign or group that buys plastics. We’ll organize the officials so they know what to do.)

Another key priority is ensuring the completion of long-delayed works at the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC).

Archival said he will create a team to audit the recently awarded P700-million project to understand what can be delivered and when.

“Karon maghimo ko ug team para sa pag-audit sa kakuwangan sa CCMC. Hopefully matan-aw nga naa nay contractor na award, aron makahibaw ta unsay mahuman sa P700 million na na-award,” he said.

(I will also form a team to audit the remaining needs of the CCMC. Hopefully, we can verify that a contractor has already been awarded, so we’ll know what can be completed with the P700 million that’s been allocated.)

He also emphasized his intent to bolster food production in the city and conduct a review of the city’s scholarship program to ensure continued and efficient support for students.

“Daghan pa (Many more), but that’s a few of the priorities,” Archival said. /csl