As 45-day local campaign starts: Nestor-Tom tandem lays down plans for Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City mayoral candidate and incumbent Councilor Nestor Archival together with his running mate, former mayor Tomas Osmeña, led the campaign trail of the Partido Bando Osmeña – Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) as the 45-day campaign period for local candidates officially kicked off yesterday.

The Archival-Osmeña tandem led their sea of supporters alongside their full slate in their official opening salvo in front of the Guadalupe Church, after the holy mass.

At the same event, the BOPK Party reintroduced their full slate.

For the councilorial race in the north district, the BOPK endorsed Nyza Archival, Bebs Andales, Jijing Cadungog, Alvin Arcilla, Lawyer Mac Gordon, Dr. Boy Labella, Lawyer Mat Medlla, and former councilor Alvin Dizon.

For the south district, Bob Cabarubias, Dr. Rachelle Abella, Jun Gabuya, Rocky Alcoseba, Paul Labra, Boyet Ocampo, Ian Osmeña, and incumbent Councilor Jose Lorenzo Abellanosa were also introduced.

For north district representative, incumbent Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos was proclaimed, while Bebot Abellanosa is the congressional candidate for the south district.

Archival, an engineer, cited the family culture of how the BOPK party works, saying that the city constituents are like children that they must look after.

Once elected as mayor, Archival vowed to address education; the health sector, particularly the completion of the Cebu City Medical Center; senior citizens' aid; traffic congestion; garbage management; and to elevate the city's collection efficiency to generate more revenue.

"Sigurohon nato nga di nato i-waste or ilabay atong resources," said Archival.

As an incumbent councilor and minority floor leader, Archival said that this experience is an advantage in the mayoral race, adding that it has allowed him to understand what has been going on in the city.

He cited an example during the budget deliberations where processes and discussions have to go through the council.

"In that case, kabalo ko unsay pamaagi. Kabalo unsaon nga walay wastage, and unsaon nga kaning waste, magamit pa sa laing importante nga kagamitan," said Archival.

With how the opening salvo went, where a flock of supporters gathered to rally behind the BOPK Party, Archival assessed it as a reflection of their party's electoral chances.

"Nakita nila nga ang serbisyo, dili lang para karon, dili lang pagpanghatag og bugas ug kwarta," said Archival, taking pride in their sustainable programs that will last a lifetime.

On the pressing issue of the war on drugs, Archival said that his approach to the matter should address the roots, not just focus on implementing surface-level arrests.

"Ang sulbad, cut the roots aron wala na," said Archival.

According to him, the problem of illegal drugs must be countered by providing jobs and training for the youth through technical education to redirect their paths.

He added that the proliferation of illegal drugs will end once every individual is catered to with jobs that address their poverty.

He also cited the introduction of sports among the youth as one of the countermeasures.

Archival also highlighted the need for more police visibility in locations where illegal drugs are present, stressing the importance of crime deterrence.

In an interview, Osmeña expressed that it has always been his desire to go back to the people and be "remembered."

According to him, he has already received several indications that their supporters will be going "all out" in their electoral chances.

Osmeña said that they are offering the people an alternative to the "corruption that is going on at the City Hall."

In his speech, Osmeña also called the current administration of Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia and former mayor Michael Rama as "corrupt."

"All of them, they are all kawatan, all of them. Let them sue me," said Osmeña.

He gave a specific example when the track oval rehabilitation at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) was allocated P60 million, which later required another round of repairs due to damages. He added that this constituted a "corruption."

According to Osmeña, the CCSC was built 30 years ago under his administration.

"Tan-awa ra ang atop, bisan usa ka sin [wala] natangtang, niagi na ang tanang pinakadako nga bagyo sa history sa Cebu, (typhoon) Odette, lindol, unsa pa diha, tan-awa ang atop, that's BOPK, ila oval ra, three months guba na," said Osmeña.

He further highlighted the unfinished Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC), which remained incomplete despite being appropriated a P3-billion budget.

 He added that the CCMC operations can only accommodate appendicitis operations up to the present.

Osmeña noted the progress of the South Road Properties (SRP), which he said had been criticized for alleged corruption after appropriating P6 billion for the 300-hectare lot area.

He also highlighted the lapses committed during the pandemic due to alleged lack of funding, where at least 2,000 senior citizens died in Cebu City alone.

"You compare what happened. I feel so sad," said Osmeña.

Osmeña attributed these issues to corruption, stressing that during the pandemic, the administration spent P300 million on snacks.

"My God, baga ilang nawong. Bisan ang manok nawala, these are the things," said Osmeña, adding that corruption is "endemic" and still exists at City Hall from the top down.

Osmeña said that as he intended for this to be his last electoral race, he rallied behind Archival for the mayorship.

According to Osmeña, the culture of politics is usually entailed with prominent last names.

He added that he put his faith in Archival's mayoral race and decided to run with him to "give the Cebuano a chance" to change this political culture.

As a party, Osmeña also highlighted the pressing concern of mental health, which other parties have not paid attention to.

According to him, this prompted them to include Dr. Abella in their slate, who is a psychiatrist, noting that mental health is one of the city's most concerning issues.

Osmeña also mentioned the inclusion of Nyza Archival, the youngest councilor candidate.

He said BOPK is the oldest political party in Cebu because they "take care of the young."

"It takes youth to understand the young," said Osmeña. (CEBU NEWS)