Osmeña hits Archival again for ‘playing it safe’ on Oplan BanTal

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña accused Mayor Nestor Archival of “playing it safe” once more, this time criticizing the mayor’s handling of Cebu City’s development priorities amid the traffic problems triggered by Oplan BanTal.

It was not the first time Osmeña used the phrase against Archival. He made a similar accusation about a month earlier over the mayor’s response to the West Philippine Sea dispute with China.

Osmeña made his latest remarks during a press conference on Monday, Aug. 10, as the city continued adjusting Oplan BanTal following complaints over worsening traffic along the Banilad-Talamban road.

‘Playing it safe for the rich guys’

Osmeña attributed this to a pattern of caution, saying Archival consistently prioritized influential interests over the public across several projects.

“He’s playing it safe all the time. He’s not helping the Carbon market because he’s playing it safe. He’s not doing Monterrazas because he’s playing it safe. He’s not doing this because he’s playing it safe. He’s playing it safe for the rich guys,” Osmeña said.

Ayala, SM cited over BRT delay

Osmeña directed his criticism at the delayed Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, noting that the project would have resolved Banilad-Talamban traffic well before Oplan BanTal was implemented.

He claimed the BRT was not prioritized because it did not benefit major developers in the area.

“They didn’t build it. They want to help Ayala and SM. So, we go back to BanTal and we make it one way, we cross one lane, we do all of these scotch tape repair. It’s gonna get worse,” Osmeña said.

He added that his past efforts to secure World Bank funding for the BRT did not receive support from the current administration.

Warns of ‘Bagyong Ruping’ scenario

Osmeña also expressed concern over the city’s flood risk, warning that continued development without sufficient drainage improvements could lead to disaster during a major storm.

He said the responsibility for such an outcome would fall on Archival.

“[If another] Bagyong Ruping happens, the developers are gone, they have all the money already. And then our people will suffer. And that will fall squarely in the hands of Mayor Nestor Archival, whether he’s dead or alive. He will have to be held accountable for that,” Osmeña said.

Pattern of criticism

Osmeña’s latest remark echoes a similar accusation he made in July, when he criticized Archival for “playing it safe” after the mayor did not attend Cebu City’s commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the 2016 West Philippine Sea arbitral ruling.

Osmeña said he was not one to avoid taking a public position, contrasting his stance with the mayor’s at the time.

“I’m very proud of the City Council. Unfortunately, our mayor’s playing it safe. Doesn’t like to be here. Doesn’t like to be identified. I’m not that kind. I take a stand,” Osmeña said in that same event.

Archival later said he did not know what Osmeña meant by the remark and said he wanted to “move forward” and focus on governance instead of responding further.

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