May a Cebuano land the DENR top post

It can be said that one does not really know outgoing Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival from Adam. There was just one instance through his cousin Dr. Danny Dionson, that the Mandaue council of elders got an informal invitation from Councilor Archival to visit his humble abode somewhere in Talamban. It so happened that the elders’ group then was discussing the environmental concerns of Mandaue, like, the solid waste management, that Dr. Dionson mentioned in passing Councilor Archival’s environmental advocacy in Cebu City.

In short, if friendship be gauged by the closeness, or the frequency of personal contacts or liaison, then Councilor Nestor isn’t a friend. Hardly even is he an acquaintance, albeit there are unquantifiable aspects that may be factored which somehow intuitively define a person even in the short time in one meeting.

Without much ado after the usual amenities, the good councilor brought us to a corner of his yard that showed some evidence of being utilized, and presto, he pointed out his hardly covered solid waste management project. There were about 3 or 4 small plots, the first of which had freshly-deposited household waste, less the recyclable items, he stressed; then, the next bed contained another solid waste deposit that obviously underwent a physical change or rotting from the first, and so on to the third bed; and, the last had a half-cut barrel which contained dark substance, like, very rich soil. And then, Councilor Archival who was then from the start explaining the whole process in articulate Cebuano, suddenly dipped his hands into the loamy soil and came out with it, together with wriggling pinkish – or almost tangerine – earthworms.

It was the end result of the solid waste management which produced the organic fertilizer that does not require a large area, practically no expense, only a short-time procedure and not toxic, or inorganic commercial fertilizer often used in agricultural tillage or agronomy which makes a once fertile soil lose its innate fertility as dire effect of inorganic toxic fertilizer.

Over a spartan lunch with “utang bisaya sinubakan sa minantikaan nga tilapia” which, if one recalls right, also home-cultured by the host, plus a couple of other native dishes, we also got a fill of the inexhaustible side stories and tips on environmental and agricultural, nay, a potpourri of info from the knowledgeable councilor.

He also proudly told us that he had also installed a solar panel to capture solar energy and a windmill to generate wind energy for his house, with enough power to sustain his alternative household energy or power needs. He is that resourceful really.

His interest in and predilection for environmental concerns, fittingly landed him as Chairman of the Committee on Environment of the Cebu City Council for nine years or three terms. And being at the forefront of environmental crusades, Councilor Nestor Archival has been an awardee as one of the Ten Outstanding Councilors of the Philippines for his program on environment, such as, “Kwarta sa Basura”, the creation of Metro Cebu Air Shed Board, and the Cebu Environmental Sanitation and Enforcement Team.

One need not be an expert in judging a person’s character to arrive at these impressions after a few hours meeting with our host: He’s a talker without being needlessly talkative; an effective communicator whose ideas bespeak loaded knowledge between his ears; interacts with others in positive impressions, as sincere, innovative, resourceful and capable, without any hint of just trying to impress; aside from being a thinker, he appears to enjoy doing things hands-on; and above all, he exudes self-confidence without being overly ambitious and narcissistic.

It’s thus no surprise that the name of Councilor Nestor Archival has come up as possible nominee for the Dept. of Natural Resources secretary, or the least, as under-secretary. His erstwhile boss, Congressman-elect Tommy Osmeña, appears enthusiastic to recommend him for the post should Archival finally decide to throw his hat into the Cabinet fray.

Let it be stressed that the possible entry of the Cebuano nominee should not be premised on “payback time” as political patronage for the Cebuano vote for president-elect Noynoy Aquino. While it is true that any Cabinet post under the new administration is coveted by salivating wannabes, one may still be idealistic that the Palace will choose the best of the crop. And, on that score, Councilor Nestor Archival may yet land the DENR top post.

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