Archival set to report first-year gains in inaugural SOCA Tuesday

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Mayor Nestor Archival will deliver his first State of the City Address (SOCA) on Tuesday, July 7, where he will present his administration’s accomplishments during its first year in office and outline the next phase of his governance agenda for Cebu City.

The inaugural SOCA will give Archival his first formal opportunity to report to Cebuanos on the progress of programs he launched after assuming office, including reforms in governance, health care, infrastructure, environment, public transportation, and social services.

READ: Archival’s first 100 days: Inventory, garbage cost cut, anti-flood plans

Archival’s promises

When Archival delivered his inaugural policy address before the 17th Sangguniang Panlungsod last year, he introduced a 10-point executive agenda anchored on what he described as a “responsive, transparent, and inclusive” government.

The road map centered on improving public services while pursuing his goal of making Cebu City “number one.”

“What matters more is how we remain consistent. And above all, it must be inclusive,” Archival said during his inaugural address.

“Ang kalampusan dili mahimong ako lang. Kinahanglan ang kolektibong kalihokan sa mga Sugboanon.” (Success should not be mine alone. It requires the collective effort of the Cebuanos.)

He also appealed for unity despite political differences inside the City Council.

“Bisan og lain-lain ta og kolor, atuang siguraduon nga magkahiusa ta.” (Even if we come from different political colors, we should make sure that we remain united.)

READ: Nestor Archival marks first year as mayor confronting Cebu City crises

Agenda covered key sectors

Archival’s executive agenda laid out reforms across 10 major areas of governance.

Among his priorities, he pledged to complete and operationalize the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC), expand health services through mobile clinics and medical missions, improve nutrition programs, and install public drinking stations.

His administration also committed to strengthening food security through pilot farms, food innovation hubs, farm-to-market roads, and a city food bank in partnership with the Cebu Provincial Government.

For education, Archival promised expanded scholarship programs, round-the-clock public libraries, stronger technical-vocational training through partnerships with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), and initiatives to address classroom hunger.

His economic agenda included faster business permit processing through digitalization, stronger support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and assistance for overseas Filipino workers and local entrepreneurs.

On climate resilience, Archival pledged to implement rainwater harvesting systems, expand solar-powered government facilities, strengthen solid waste management, conduct a citywide sewage feasibility study, ban single-use plastics inside City Hall, and launch a tree-planting campaign targeting 250,000 trees.

READ: Cebu faces waste crisis after fatal landfill slide

His housing agenda focused on community-based relocation, disaster preparedness, and resolving the long-standing 93-1 lot issue with the Cebu Provincial Government.

He also identified traffic management as a major priority by supporting the completion of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT), the North-South Expressway, stricter traffic enforcement, intelligent traffic signal systems, and additional night bus services for business process outsourcing workers.

Other priorities included expanding public safety through AI-assisted CCTV systems, emergency call boxes, QR help desks, and a 24-hour city hotline.

Archival also committed to improving revenue generation by maximizing government assets, enhancing tax collection efficiency, and pursuing public-private partnerships.

His agenda concluded with expanded welfare programs for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, transport workers, vendors, youth, members of the LGBTQ community, and other vulnerable sectors.

READ: Cebu officials, biz leaders urged to think long-term, act before crisis

First-year report

Tuesday’s SOCA will serve as Archival’s first comprehensive report to the public on how far his administration has advanced those commitments.

The mayor is expected to discuss accomplishments, ongoing infrastructure projects, governance reforms, financial management, environmental initiatives, public health programs, and priorities for the remainder of his three-year term.

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