Archival to take oath in ‘simple but meaningful’ rites

Local

CEBU City Mayor-elect Nestor Archival Sr. will officially take his oath as Cebu City’s next mayor on Thursday, June 26.

The oath-taking will take place at 9 a.m. at the Plaza Sugbo grounds, in front of City Hall.

Archival, who begins his term on July 1, said the event will be kept “simple but meaningful,” with no high-profile political guests invited except for Erin Tañada of the Liberal Party, his national party affiliation.

Archival, a first-time mayor and engineer by profession, secured a commanding 256,197 votes, defeating incumbent Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia and former mayor Michael Rama, who received 176,967 and 120,124 votes, respectively.

His victory also marked the political resurgence of Bando Osmeña–Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), the local political group led by former mayor Tomas Osmeña, now returning to City Hall as Vice Mayor-elect.

Initially reluctant to enter the race, Archival gained momentum after Osmeña publicly backed his candidacy.

With limited resources, the team campaigned directly to the masses through intimate dialogues and small group meetings.

“We didn’t rely on barangay leaders. We talked directly to people in groups of four to ten. That was our approach,” Archival said.

His grassroots strategy and the campaign message “Serbisyo para sa masa, dili para sa bulsa” (Service for the people, not for the pockets) resonated with voters looking for change beyond the usual political dynasties.

“This election wasn’t about personalities, it was about values,” Osmeña said after the polls.

Archival said his administration will focus on issues long plaguing the city, including flooding, waste, traffic, and education.

He intends to apply engineering principles to governance, stressing efficiency, measurable results, and planning backward from clear goals.

“We will run the city like a well-managed project—target-driven, transparent, and mindful of public funds,” Archival said.

He also vowed to continue longstanding public service

initiatives through his Nestor Archival Rescue and Fire (NARF) foundation, which provides emergency assistance, scholarships, and disaster response.

“Coming from humble beginnings, I understand the needs of ordinary Cebuanos. But I also speak the language of planners, investors, and professionals,” he added.

Meanwhile, outgoing Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia is scheduled to deliver his final State of the City Address on Friday, June 27 at the Executive Building’s Community Hall in Cebu City Hall.(TGP)