CEBU CITY Mayor Nestor Archival Sr. won’t be inside Batasan when President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. delivers his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday. But that hasn’t stopped him from making his expectations crystal clear.

In an interview on July 25, Archival said he wasn’t invited to the annual event but stressed that the President must address urgent issues.

These, he mentioned, range from the controversial 19 percent tariff on Philippine exports and the elusive P20-per-kilo rice to the slow-moving Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project.

One of the mayor’s key concerns is the recently concluded trade deal with the United States, which lowered tariffs on Philippine exports from 20 to 19 percent, still higher than the 17 percent initially promised.

In exchange, the Philippines has opened its market to key American goods like cars, wheat, soy, and medicine.

“Gitagaan ta niya ug more or less P3 billion nga aid,” Archival said. “Unya sakto ba kaha ni nga maka-offset sa tariff nga iyang gi-impose?”

The U.S. remains the country’s top export destination, with $73.27 billion worth of goods shipped there in 2024, accounting for 16.6 percent of all Philippine exports. The country also maintains a $4.9 billion trade surplus with the U.S.

Archival also pressed Marcos on his long-standing campaign promise to bring rice prices down to P20 per kilo, a promise that remains unmet halfway through his term.

“Nag-expect guro ko next year… kay mag-participate man ang syudad sa Sugbo ana,” Archival said.

While the national government has rolled out interventions through the Department of Agriculture, still headed by Marcos himself, critics say deeper reforms in the agricultural sector are urgently needed to make affordable rice a reality.

The mayor is also looking for stronger executive support for the long-overdue Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project, which is finally inching forward after years of stagnation.

“Ang akong gi-expect, iyang mahigugtan ang pilot project nga dako kining CBRT nga magsugod na gyud ug magpadayon,” Archival said.

The CBRT’s Phase 1 test run is expected this September, covering a 13-kilometer stretch from the Cebu South Bus Terminal to the Capitol.

The project is funded by the World Bank and spearheaded by the Department of Transportation.

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon confirmed that CiBus units will be used during the dry run while full stations are still under construction.

Archival also called on the President to ramp up efforts in other areas that directly impact people’s lives, especially housing and environmental protection.

“Maayo unta maka-take off na ang housing, and ang syudad sa Sugbo naa untay project nga iyang mahatag,” he said, expressing hope for national support on local initiatives.

He added, “Ang environment essential gyud na for sustainable development in the region.”

President Marcos will deliver his fourth SONA on Monday, July 28, at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.(TGP)

• Tags
• #Mayor Nestor Archival
• #SONA
• #President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
• #US trade deal