Engineer to take over reins at CH

CEBU, Philippines — Succeeding three lawyer-mayors in recent years, Cebu City has elected an electrical engineer whose victory surprised opponents from prominent political families.

Yesterday around 8 AM, the canvassing of votes officially concluded, marking the beginning of a new administration in Cebu City.

The canvassing board of the Cebu City Commission on Elections, led by election officer Ferdinand Gujilde, then proclaimed the remaining list of winners in the councilor race for the North District, the new vice mayor, and the city’s top executive official.

As announced, Councilor Nestor Archival won the mayoral race with 256,197 votes, followed by incumbent Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia with 176,967 votes. Former Mayor Michael Rama garnered 120,124 votes, Yogi Ruiz received 27,652, and Julieto Co got 3,163.

In the vice mayoral race, Archival’s running mate, former mayor Tomas Osmeña, won with 233,906 votes, followed by incumbent Vice Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros with 190,586 votes and Joey Daluz with 147,343.

Although grateful, Archival admitted his victory came as a surprise, given the substantial margin between him and his opponents. According to him, the win presents a chance to prove that he can deliver more for the city.

He explained that they began their mayoral campaign with the support of only five barangay captains out of the 80 in Cebu City, which eventually dwindled to just two. He said this alone was already a major challenge.

Archival emphasized that this scenario eventually worked to their advantage, pointing out that barangay captain support is usually considered crucial in laying the foundation for a strong electoral campaign.

To overcome these challenges, Archival said they campaigned on foot, moving in groups --a strategy that he admitted was time-consuming. He stressed that they chose to directly reach out to the people rather than relying on barangay officials.

Archival’s campaign battle cry since he filed his certificate of candidacy was "Engineer napud", which, for him, aligns with his vision to make "Cebu City number 1 again." As a licensed electrical engineer, Archival follows a succession of lawyer-mayors, including his opponents Rama and Garcia.

According to Archival, he believed his biggest edge over his rivals was his hard work and his credentials, which he claimed set him apart from the rest.

“I have proven myself to contribute what I have,” said Archival.

In the weeks leading up to the election, Archival admitted he began to sense his standing through a series of surveys, which initially did not place him at the top.

Because of this, he said they intensified their community-based campaigning.

Despite this, he emphasized that survey results seen on social media do not necessarily reflect actual votes, noting that they merely indicate certain trends.

Now that he has clinched the top post, Archival vowed to build a government that serves the masses and remains free from any form of corruption. He also took pride in being a farmer’s son, highlighting his relatability with and connection to the people.

In a separate interview, Vice Mayor-elect Osmeña said the first thing they intend to do is thank the people who “sacrificed” for their election campaign. In addition, he said they plan to communicate and coordinate with various sectors of the city.

“My door is open. I am open for any suggestions,” said Osmeña. — (FREEMAN)