Archival: Minority bloc will not be left out

Local

THIS time, the minority gets a seat at the table.

Cebu City Mayor-elect Nestor Archival Sr. vowed to push for fair representation in the Cebu City Council by ensuring that members of the minority bloc are given committee chairmanships.

Archival confirmed in a recent media forum that a meeting among all elected councilors was held three days prior to discuss fostering unity despite political divisions.

While no specific actions have been taken yet, Archival said the direction is clear: change is coming.

“I would like to tell you that three days ago, we had a meeting with all councilors and there’s understanding that we have to help each other. But we don’t know yet how to take action on that, but basically Tommy Osmeña made first action already. For the meantime, kana lang usa,” Archival said.

He emphasized that this new administration will handle the assignment of council roles differently compared to previous years when the minority bloc was left without any chairmanships.

“There will be a different kind of handling of how things should be done, like the chairmanship. Sauna, the party minority, wala gyud—zero. But karon, it will be different. You will see that in the next few weeks,” Archival added.

Archival currently serves as minority floor leader in the 16th Cebu City Council, where the majority bloc has consistently held all committee chairmanships.

Minority councilors were previously offered only committee memberships, offers that some declined, citing exclusion from meetings and consultations.

In July 2024, the Council reorganized its committees, with majority councilors retaining leadership roles.

Minority councilors, including Mary Ann de los Santos and Jose Lorenzo Abellanosa, declined their respective nominations to committee memberships due to personal reasons and prior experiences of being sidelined.

This situation mirrors a similar scenario in 2020, when the minority bloc of the 15th Sangguniang Panglungsod also received no committee chairmanships.

Despite claims from then-Vice Mayor Michael Rama that offers were made, minority councilors, including Archival, maintained that no such formal invitations were extended.