CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival asserted the need to equip law enforcement with breath analyzers (for alcohol test), stressing that public safety requires not only manpower but also proper tools.
Speaking during the Cebu City Police Office’s traditional New Year’s Call at City Hall the other day, Archival praised the discipline and teamwork of the police force while acknowledging that there remain critical gaps in enforcement.
“We welcomed the Cebu City Police Office, led by PCol. George Y. Ylanan, during their New Year’s Call at the office, kauban ang ilang Command Group, Special Unit chiefs, ug station commanders sa Police Stations 1–13. Kini nga higayon usa ka oportunidad sa pagpasalamat sa ilang padayon nga serbisyo sa pagmintinar sa kalinaw ug kahapsay sa atong dakbayan,” Archival said.
He commended the CCPO for its role in the successful staging of Sinulog 2026 and the ASEAN Tourism Forum.
“Atong giila ang ilang dako nga papel sa kalampusan sa Sinulog 2026 ug sa ASEAN Tourism Forum. Klaro kaayo ang teamwork, maayong koordinasyon, ug disiplina nga ilang gipakita. Tungod sa inyong paningkamot, nahimo natong malinawon ug organisado ang mga dakong kalihokan nga giatubang sa lokal ug internasyonal nga mga bisita.”
Yet the mayor stressed that despite these achievements, Cebu must confront systemic shortcomings in road safety enforcement.
“Bisan pa sa atong mga kalampusan, kabalo ta nga aduna pa’y mga aspeto nga angay palig-onon. Atong gihisgutan ang panginahanglan sa dugang nga kagamitan ug mas lig-on nga suporta aron mas epektibo pa ang ilang operasyon sa umaabot. Ang siyudad magpadayon sa pagbarug uban sa atong kapulisan, kay ang kaluwasan ug kahapsay sa komunidad usa ka responsibilidad nga ato’ng gipanagbahinan,” he said.
Archival’s call for breath analyzer equipment comes in the wake of the February 8 hit-and-run incident in Banilad that killed 23-year-old entrepreneur Kingston Ralph Ko Cheng.
The case highlighted the absence of such devices in Cebu hospitals, leading to a 19-hour delay in alcohol testing of the suspect.
“Dinhi sa tibuok Cebu, atong nahibaw-an wala diay ta’y equipment niana…we need to have that. Wala ta’y breath analyzer…I think wala. We need to have that,” Archival admitted.
He added, “I think there are a lot of things to be done because wala gyud ta dinhi kadtong equipment nga murag breath analyzer. So, that’s one thing I would like to suggest…Mao na nga we will be very active on this.”
Breath analyzers work by measuring ethanol molecules in exhaled breath and converting the result into blood alcohol concentration.
Accordingly, the principle is based on Henry’s Law, which establishes a 2100:1 ratio between alcohol in the blood and alcohol in the breath. When a person exhales, the device detects ethanol and provides a reading within seconds.
Fuel cell sensors, the type most commonly used by police, are considered the most accurate, while semiconductor sensors are cheaper but less precise. Infrared spectroscopy is used in advanced models for highly reliable results.
In the Philippines, breath analyzer devices are sold at different price points. Basic portable testers, often marketed for personal use, can cost as little as ₱99 to ₱500, though their reliability is limited.
Mid-range digital testers are sold for ₱500 to ₱900 and are widely available online. Professional fuel cell models, the kind required for police and hospital use, range from about ₱3,500 to ₱25,000 or more, depending on specifications and brand.
Archival’s push for breath analyzer equipment signals a broader move to modernize Cebu’s public safety systems.
| Written by Caecent No-ot Magsumbol/RAE
