Nestor Dionson Archival Sr. (born June 2,1958) is a Filipino politician,engineer,businessman,and environmentalist who has served as the 29th Mayor of Cebu City since 2025. Before being elected mayor,he served as a member of the Cebu City Council for the first district since 2019,a seat he previously held from 2013 to 2016 and 2001 to 2010. He is a longtime member of the Osmeña-founded Bando Osmeña –Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).
Archival was born on June 2,1956 in Sirao,Cebu City. His father was a farmer,and his mother was a public school teacher.[2] After his family moved to Talamban in 1965,Archival was active in the Boy Scout during his elementary years,serving as a scout leader. He completed his secondary education at Abellana National High School and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of San Carlos (USC),where he also served as vice president of the USC Supreme Student Council (SSC).[3]
After graduating from the University of San Carlos,Archival passed the licensure examination for electrical engineers,placing 16th nationwide.[2] He is a registered professional electrical engineer and a member of the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines,Inc.[4]
Early career
Archival is the founder and owner of N.A. Systems Inc.,a Cebu City-based electrical construction company.[5]
Archival built the Archival Eco-House in his residence in Sitio Ylaya,Talamban,Cebu City. The house runs on solar power and relies on rainwater for its water supply.[6] In 2014,Archival was awarded for his eco-house and green advocacy by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Philippine Information Agency (PIA).[7][8]
Cebu City Council (2001–2010,2013–2016)
Archival first ran for public office in 1995 but was unsuccessful in his bid for Barangay Captain of Talamban,Cebu City. He joined affiliated the Bando Osmeña –Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) in 2000,and was subsequently elected to the Cebu City Council in 2001 to represent the 1st (North) District,securing re-election in 2004 and 2007 to serve three consecutive terms.[9][10][11] Due to term limits,he did not seek re-election in 2010.
In the 2013 elections,Archival was once again elected as city councilor,ranking first among North District candidates with 106,135 votes,and sixth overall in the Council behind the top five candidates from the more populous South (2nd) District.[12]
During his tenure as councilor,Archival opted to donate his government salary to fund scholarships for underprivileged students.[2] In 2001,he also established the Nestor Archival Rescue and Fire (NARF) Brigade,a volunteer organization composed of firefighters,paramedics,and other first responders.[13]
2016 vice mayoral campaign
On October 15,2015,Archival filed his Certificate of Candidacy for Vice Mayor before the Cebu CityCOMELEC for the 2016 elections,together with his running-mate and mayoral candidate Tomas Osmeña and the rest of the BOPK lineup. Archival was challenging incumbent Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella,who was running for re-election along with incumbent Mayor Mike Rama,after both defeated Osmeña's tandem in 2013.[12][14]
On May 10,2016,Archival lost to Labella by 29,864 votes. Osmeña,however,defeated Rama by 33,894 votes and was proclaimed Mayor of Cebu City.[15]
Cebu City Council (2019–2025)
Archival ran for councilor again in 2019,securing the highest number of votes among North District candidates with 124,466,placing fifth overall behind the top four councilors from the South District.[16] He repeated this performance in the 2022 elections,once again ranking first in the North District and seventh overall in the council.[17]
Following the council's reorganizational session on July 3,2024,Archival criticized the council's rejection of a motion to bring back the "Citizen's Hour" forum during council sessions,a forum previously held during weekly council sessions that allowed for direct interaction between the public and legislators.[18]
In February 2025,Archival opposed Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia’s proposal to relocate Cebu City Hall to a new ₱500-million complex at the South Road Properties,citing concerns over the site's limited access to public transportation and other priorities for public spending.[19]
Legislative record
According to accomplishment reports published by Archival’s office,he was involved in passing a total of 335 city ordinances and resolutions in 2023,[20] and 236 in 2024.[21] Among these were:
An ordinance to standardize training for barangay electricians (2023).
The creation of an ad hoc committee for the SRP Pond A and Inayawan Landfill (2023).
The revival of the free bus ride program (2024).
Legislation supporting and recognizing delivery riders (2024).
A land swap agreement between Cebu City and the provincial government (2024).
Measures broadening financial assistance for senior citizens (2024).
Initiatives to enhance the provision of free school supplies for elementary schools (2024).
An ordinance addressing flood control (2024).
2025 Cebu mayoral campaign
On October 8,2024,Archival filed his certificate of candidacy for Mayor of Cebu City alongside his running mate,former Mayor Tomas Osmena,and the rest of BOPK's candidates.[22] His campaign used the tagline “Serbisyo para sa masa,dili para sa bulsa”(Service for the masses,not for the pockets)[23]
Archival's platforms emphasized three key areas:[24]
Innovation and Economic Development: Proposals included establishing a hub for AI and robotics development,job creation initiatives,[25] and the implementation of 24/7 government services;
Social Services and Welfare: Commitments to provide free education from elementary to tertiary levels,access to healthcare and hospitalization,and support for marginalized groups;
Environment and Infrastructure: Plans to address traffic congestion,flooding,garbage disposal,water supply,and food security.
Archival also advocated for the restoration of Cebu City's CHAMP hospitalization assistance program and improvements to bicycle lane infrastructure.
During the campaign period,opinion surveys consistently showed Archival trailing behind incumbent Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia—the consistent survey frontrunner—as well as former Mayor Michael Rama.[26] Archival attributed these challenges to limited funding and organizational support,noting that only 2 of the city’s 80 barangay captains had endorsed his candidacy.[2][23]
On May 12,2025,Archival won the mayoral election in what media outlets described as an upset victory. He credited the outcome to a grassroots-oriented campaign strategy,which focused on direct engagement with voters in the absence of financial resources and institutional backing.[23] The COMELEC proclaimed Archival and other winning city officials early the next morning,May 13.[27] Shortly after,Garcia conceded defeat in the mayoral race and pledged his support to Archival. Garcia subsequently conceded the race and expressed his support for Archival’s incoming administration.[28]
Mayor of Cebu City (since 2025)
Outgoing Cebu City Mayor Garcia and Mayor-elect Nestor Archival hold a transition meeting on May 26,2025.
During and after his campaign,Archival announced his plans to implement 24/7 government services at the Cebu City Hall,which will make it the first city hall in the entire Philippines to do so.[29] On May 26,Garcia and Archival held their first formal transition meeting along with their respective teams,facilitated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Garcia assured Archival of a smooth transition,as well as offering advice and support.[30]
On May 22,2025,Archival announced that city employees will be staying in place for the first three months of his term,in contrast to the usual practice of changing most employees (especially contractual and job-order workers) when a new mayor takes office. This was in response to mounting concerns from city employees,as well as a request Garcia made during a May 19 press conference to retain employees,especially those with institutional knowledge. Archival estimated the number of city employees at 10,000 and announced that his team will be conducting a comprehensive review of the city's resources and workforce before implementing any major personnel changes.[31]
In a June 26 interview with broadcaster Jason Monteclar,Osmeña criticized Archival and BOPK,stating that he "felt betrayed" after the outgoing city council,during its final session,unanimously approved an ordinance aligning the city's land-use map with the newly-approved Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP). Osmeña alleged that ordinance was a means to allow the privatization of Carbon Market by Megawide through updating the market's classification from institutional to commercial,and that bribery was likely involved. Vendors and civil society groups also accused Archival of breaking his promise to push for the ordinance's deferment after Archival quietly walked out of the council's session hall before the vote.[32]
Archival,in a phone interview the next day,June 27,denied that he betrayed anyone. He answered that the CLUP had been pending for 29 years to the city's detriment,that he had sought a deferment of the vote from outgoing majority floor leader Councilor Jocelyn "Joy" Pesquera only for the council to proceed anyway,and that the ordinance could be reviewed under his incoming administration should problems arise in its implementation.[32]
Archival (right) and Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña assume office on June 30,2025
Archival took his ceremonial oath of office as the 29th Mayor of Cebu City at Plaza Sugbu on June 26,2025,alongside Osmeña and the rest of the elected councilors from BOPK. Barangay Inayawan Captain Kirk Bryan Repollo administered Archival's oath of office. His term officially began on June 30. Archival called on his constituents to support his administration,stating that his goal of making Cebu City "number 1 again" required a city-wide vision to become reality.[33] One of his first acts in office was the reopening of the Cebu City Public Library on a 24-hour operating schedule on June 30.[34]
Electoral history
Key:Italicized:incumbents in council races
1995:Lost as Barangay Captain of Talamban,Cebu City[2]
2001:Won as Councilor for Cebu City's 1st District[9]
2004:Won as Councilor for Cebu City's 1st District,placing 2nd with 82,203 votes[10]
2007:Won as Councilor for Cebu City's 1st District,placing 2nd with 100,049 votes[11]
2013 City Council election for Cebu City's 1st district[12]
Archival has two sons,Nathan and Nestor Jr. He is also the brother of the late Noel Archival,a lawyer and human rights advocate who was killed in 2014,and Nelson Archival,a barangay councilor in Talamban. His niece,Nyza "Nice" Archival,was elected as the second-highest ranking city councilor for Cebu City's 1st District in the 2025 elections.[39]
In 2009,Archival suffered a stroke at the age of 51,alongside complications from hypertension and diabetes. Following his recovery,he adopted a healthier lifestyle,which later influenced his decision to establish Toniq Juice Bar as a business venture.[40]
Most Outstanding Electrical Engineer in the Field of Construction / Project Management,awarded by the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines.[13][41]
↑ Mascardo, Iris Hazel (27 May 2025). "Garcia, Archival meet; smooth turnover assured". The Freeman. Retrieved 28 May 2025. "I am willing to assist, I am willing to help. Just call me... I will help", said Garcia in a mix of English and Cebuano.
1 Inaugural Municipal mayor2 Inaugural City Mayor3 Acting mayor4 Appointed OIC
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