CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — Cebu City Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover Jr., yet recovering from surgery and now cancer-free, criticized Mayor Nestor Archival for spending millions on Charter Day festivities despite the city’s deficit and inability to provide employee bonuses.
Alcover zeroed in on the PRAISE Awards and testimonial dinner, both staged at the posh Waterfront Cebu Hotel and limited to invited guests and awardees.
“WAY KWARTA??? Ngano adto man sa Waterfront ang program??? Pila nasad ka million gastuhon ana??? MAGDAGINOT MAN KAHA TA???” he posted, questioning why the liberal spending of millions in hotel-based events, while ordinary city employees and the rest will not enjoy them.
The criticism comes after Archival himself acknowledged that Cebu City is facing a ₱91 million deficit, making the traditional Charter Day bonus for employees unlikely.
“If we do not have savings, it will be difficult to grant a bonus,” Archival said earlier, explaining that without surplus funds, any incentive would be disallowed by the Commission on Audit.
Budget for Charter Day events
Information shared to the media from City Hall earlier showed that the proposed budget for Charter Day activities is set at ₱3.55 million, excluding the PRAISE Awards.
The breakdown includes ₱682,500 for the wreath-laying ceremony, ₱2.61 million for the testimonial dinner, and ₱265,000 for the photo exhibit.
The Freeman tried to ask for the PRAISE Awarding’s budget, also at Waterfront, but to no avail, as of press time.
The PRAISE Awards are dedicated to recognizing the city’s most outstanding employees and departments, along with loyalty awardees.
But the events were strictly by invitation, leaving many City Hall employees unable to participate.
Alcover said it would have been better if all Charter Day-related events had been held at City Hall instead. “Simple program anha nalang sa City Hall … Plaza Sugbo ba o sa 9th floor ba? … magduda man sad ta,” he added.
This is not the first time Charter Day budgets have come under scrutiny.
In past years, the Commission on Audit flagged incentive releases, prompting the City Council to set the allocation for Charter Day bonuses at zero in the 2026 budget.
Beyond Charter day noises
Alcover’s frustration, however, extends beyond Charter Day. He recalled that earlier this month, the Council approved a ₱12.5 million lease for the “Mayor of the Night” office, a measure he opposed but could not block, as he was on sick leave.
He lamented that priorities have been misplaced, pointing to shortages of basic supplies at the Cebu City Medical Center, unaddressed mountain roads and bridges, and the plight of poor patients.
He also criticized Archival for failing to convene the Cebu City Vendors Registration and Welfare Council, despite earlier promises to organize and support street vendors.
“Wa nimo tumana…imo hinoon gigukod pag-ayo,” Alcover said, accusing the mayor of treating the poor as “sagbot sa katilingban.”
Adding to his list of grievances, Alcover reminded Archival of his unfulfilled pledge to provide rice at ₱20 per kilo last December.
“Mayor asa naman imong gisaad nga barato nga bugas tag P20 per kilo? Limot-limotan lang?” he asked, mocking the mayor’s forgotten promise.
The councilor’s renewed banters underscore a widening rift between Archival’s fiscal management and Alcover’s calls for austerity and social welfare.
| Written by Caecent No-ot Magsumbol/RAE
