Archival as environment secretary?

CEBU, Philippines - Will his experience as a councilor and as an active advocate for environmental protection and conservation put outgoing Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival to the highest position at the environment department?

Archival is being eyed for the position as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources upon recommendation by no less than congressman-elect and outgoing Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

“Actually sa una gyud, during the time when we were having a discussion. They were telling me na why not apply for the position in the DENR? First is for undersecretary but during the time ingon sa akong mga kauban nga why not eye for a secretary? Until ang among storya naabot ni Tommy (Osmeña),” Archival said.

The councilor said that he would have preferred only to be undersecretary but the encouragement from his fellow councilors and Osmeña convinced him to aim higher.

Archival admitted his desire to serve at the DENR could best promote his advocacies for the environment, only this time the scope is wider and not only local.

“If Tommy will be wiling to endorse, why not? I am happy. The things I have learned for the last nine years as councilor (chairman of committee) sa environment, I could say that I’m ready. And with help of Paul Villarete and Bimbo Fernandez and the mayor and all the councilors, I think I would be prepared,” he added.

Archival is serving his last term as councilor of the city. Currently, he is the chairman of the council committee on environment.

He is active on environmental crusades and has already attended local, national and international trainings and conventions.

Just this year, he was awarded one of the 10 outstanding councilors in the country for his innovative environmental advocacy where he was able to successfully show examples that livelihood can be mixed with environmental awareness.

Among his many programs for the environment is the Kwarta sa Basura, creation of the Metro Cebu Air Shed Board (MCASB) and the formation of the Cebu Environmental Sanitation and Enforcement Team (Ce-set).

Had he not thought of applying for a position at the DENR, the original plan was for mayor-elect Michael Rama to hire him as consultant in environmental matters.

Osmeña said that if Archival wants to apply as DENR secretary, he will highly recommend the latter to president-apparent Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, as he already knows Archival’s capacity.

“When you get in the position like that, the important thing is he has the skill to connect with the people. From the standpoint, he is qualified. You don’t need to have a technical expertise. It’s how you can improve the services and how you bridge that to the people,” Osmeña said.   (FREEMAN NEWS)