Archival says minority also deserved council committee chairmanships

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Mayor Nestor Archival on Wednesday said the Cebu City Council’s reorganization would have been “nicer and better” had minority councilors received committee chairmanships, even as he acknowledged the majority bloc’s prerogative to distribute leadership posts.

Archival made his comment a day after the 17th Cebu City Council finalized its standing committees, handing nearly all key chairmanships to members of the Barug-Kusug coalition while leaving four opposition councilors without a single committee to lead.

READ: Barug-Kusug tightens grip on Cebu City Council, takes key committees

Although the mayor declined to criticize the majority’s decision directly, he stressed that the council should continue fostering cooperation across political lines to advance legislation and programs that benefit the public.

“I think I have nothing to say because everything has been rearranged already,” Archival told reporters.

He added that while the organizational structure now stands, the focus should shift toward collaboration.

“Ang ako lang, we need partnership… we have different parties, but it’s important that the road we are going is more or less the same… para sa kaayohan sa tanan,” he said.

(What matters to me is that we need a partnership. We may belong to different parties, but it is important that we move in the same direction for everyone’s welfare.)

‘Nicer and better’

Asked whether he had hoped minority councilors would receive committee chairmanships, Archival answered in the affirmative.

“Yes. It could have been nicer and better,” he said.

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He, however, acknowledged that political realignments naturally shape committee assignments.

“Things happen because this is politics, actually. Realignments are always there,” the mayor said.

Rather than dwell on the outcome, Archival urged the majority bloc to maintain open communication with the minority.

“Ang ako lang, the majority actually will be finding ways so that we will be connecting, the minority and the majority. Mao lang na gyud ang punto,” he said.

(What I hope is that the majority will find ways for the minority and majority to work together. That’s really the point.)

Health committee transition

Archival also expressed hope that projects initiated by former Health Committee chairperson Councilor Michelle Abella-Cellona would continue despite the committee’s new leadership.

Under the reorganization, Councilor David Tumulak now chairs the Committee on Health, Hospitals, Services and Sanitation, replacing Abella-Cellona, who no longer heads any committee.

The mayor specifically cited the city’s Wolbachia project, a $1.5-million partnership that aims to reduce mosquito-borne diseases and positions Cebu City as the pilot site for the initiative in the Philippines.

He also mentioned the proposed Mental Health Council, one of Abella-Cellona’s priority legislative measures.

“I would love that the majority, especially the Committee on Health, would also find a way to align with the projects that Dr. Michel had started. After all, para man ni sa kaayohan sa atong mga katawhan,” Archival said.

(I hope the majority, especially the Committee on Health, will continue the projects that Dr. Michel started. After all, these are for the welfare of our people.)

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Asked whether the change in leadership could affect those initiatives, Archival said he hoped it would not.

“Hope na dili. Ato lang gyud ni silang i-align. Everybody is on talking terms man. Wala may nagdumot,” he said.

(I hope not. We just need to align everyone. Everybody is on speaking terms. There is no ill feeling.)

Majority controls key committees

The Barug-Kusug coalition now chairs nearly all major committees overseeing the city’s budget, legislation, infrastructure, planning, public services, environment, transportation, and economic development.

Only four minority councilors—Michelle Abella-Cellona, Jose Abellanosa, Alvin Arcilla and Minority Floor Leader Sisinio Andales—received no committee chairmanships.

The committee assignments strengthened the alliance’s control of the legislative branch after it earlier secured the council’s leadership positions during the inaugural session.

While committee chairpersons determine hearing schedules, prioritize proposed measures, and oversee executive departments within their respective jurisdictions, Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña continues to preside over council sessions as the body’s presiding officer.

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