Acting city administrator to handle fiscal matters

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has formally expanded the authority of Acting City Administrator Atty. Briccio Joseph Boholst, granting him significant responsibilities over financial management and disbursements at City Hall.

In Memorandum No. 2026-00438, dated September 28, 2026, Archival authorized Boholst to sign checks as well as approve disbursement vouchers, payrolls, and obligation requests across a wide range of transactions.

The directive empowers Boholst to approve disbursements up to P10 million for the procurement of goods, services, infrastructure, and consulting projects.

It also allows him to sign checks of any amount for salaries, utilities, government premiums, subsidies, and social assistance programs.

His authority extends to cash advances for confidential funds, burial assistance, honoraria for barangay workers, subsidies to special accounts, and reimbursements for medical assistance.

By consolidating these functions under the acting administrator, Archival emphasized the need for continuity and efficiency in city operations, particularly in fiscal matters that directly affect government employees, barangay personnel, and beneficiaries of social programs.

This expansion comes after City Administrator Albert Tan’s indefinite leave of absence.

As reported earlier, Tan filed for leave and stepped aside as Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairman in mid-September to allow an investigation mainly into procurement complaints.

Archival’s chief of staff, Kenneth Siasar, clarified last Monday that Tan did not resign but went on leave to protect the credibility of the administration.

While critics, including Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña, had questioned Tan’s performance, Archival defended him as “working and producing results.”

With Tan on leave, Boholst’s designation is intended to keep fiscal operations uninterrupted.

His dual role as city attorney and acting city administrator places him at the center of both legal and administrative oversight.

During the City Council’s regular session the other day, Councilor Winston Pepito filed a resolution to formally delegate authority to Boholst to sign checks, debit memos, and other documents tied to the city’s bank accounts, subject to the limitations set in Archival’s memorandum.

The measure was supposed to be deliberated but was deferred after Pepito left early to attend to his duties as president of the Philippine Councilors League–Cebu City Chapter in Bohol. — /MRM (FREEMAN)