POLITICAL MATURITY: Cebu City dad commends Garcia, Archival for smooth transition

Local

CEBU City’s outgoing and incoming leaders are setting a new standard for smooth, statesmanlike transitions in local governance, a city official noted.

Cebu City Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover praised the ongoing transition between outgoing Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia and Mayor-elect Nestor Archival as a model of “political maturity.”

He described it as a “reconciliatory approach” that the city and the country badly need.

In a privilege speech during a recent regular session of the City Council, Alcover said the early and cooperative turnover process between the two leaders reflects a reconciliatory and forward-looking approach that prioritizes public interest over political rivalry.

“This is a sign that officials in Cebu City are politically mature,” Alcover said.

“It signals a new political thinking—one that moves away from vindictiveness and embraces reconciliation for the greater good,” he added.

Alcover credited both Garcia and Archival for showing statesmanship by working together ahead of the official change in leadership on June 30.

“This kind of transition reflects a commitment to reconciliatory governance and demonstrates strong political will,” Alcover said.

He added that past transitions in other cities were often marred by partisan hostility, such as the withholding of records, locked offices, or purges of employees, which only delayed public service and deepened political divides.

“This new model of transition departs from the politics of revenge. It gives the incoming administration a clear starting point and gives the public confidence in the continuity of programs,” Alcover added.

One of the more reassuring gestures, he said, was Mayor-elect Archival’s earlier announcement that no immediate mass layoffs would happen, allowing employees a three-month transition period to prove their value or explore other opportunities.

This stance, Alcover noted, was a departure from the usual fear-driven reshuffling that tends to accompany local political shifts.

On May 26, Garcia and Archival held their first formal transition meeting at City Hall, joined by their respective teams and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) officials, to kickstart the official turnover process.

Garcia, who lost to Archival in a highly contested mayoral race, struck a cooperative tone and pledged full support to his successor.

“I want this new administration to work. I want this administration to succeed because the success of this administration is the success of the City of Cebu,” Garcia said in an interview.

“I even told Councilor Nestor, ‘You can call me anytime. I am willing to assist. I am willing to help,’” he added.

Archival, for his part, praised Garcia’s openness and willingness to collaborate beyond his term.

“Makita ninyo nga maayo kaayo siya nga ni-accept nato… Mayor Raymond is very cooperative sa iyang mga pronouncement nga he is going to do whatever he can aron makahelp siya sa atong administration,” Archival said.

Both camps agreed to hold a second round of meetings to brief department heads and ensure that no critical areas of governance are overlooked.

Garcia emphasized that unity, not rivalry, must define the transition.

“We need everybody to row in the same direction so that the city will progress,” he said.(TGP)