Archival ditches Japan trip due to ‘Verbena’

Local

CEBU CITY Mayor Nestor Archival cancelled a scheduled international speaking engagement in Japan to oversee the city’s response to Tropical Depression Verbena.

Archival was set to fly to Yokohama on Monday night to speak at the Smart Cities Conference, an international forum on technology, mobility, and climate resilience.

These topics are closely aligned with the city’s push for a “Sustainable, Smart, and Inclusive Cebu City.”

But after hours of monitoring updated weather bulletins and consulting the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the mayor said the trip was no longer appropriate.

“After carefully monitoring the weather forecast and upon the recommendation of our Disaster Council and the DILG, I will not proceed with my scheduled trip to Yokohama, Japan,” Archival said.

“At a time like this, I need to be here at home—to stand with our teams, monitor the situation closely, and ensure we are fully prepared for any possible impact on our communities.”

The decision comes as Cebu City remains under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1, with Pagasa warning of strong winds, occasional rains, and possible flooding in low-lying areas as Verbena continues to move westward after making landfall in Surigao del Sur on Monday afternoon.

City Hall has placed all departments, emergency units, and barangay teams on heightened readiness. Disaster response teams are conducting preemptive checks in flood-prone and mountain barangays, while evacuation centers have been opened and supplies prepositioned.

Residents are urged to prepare essential items, secure their homes, avoid coastal areas due to rough seas, and follow advisories only from official channels.

Archival said that while sharing Cebu City’s innovations on the international stage would have been beneficial, safety and direct leadership during a weather disturbance take precedence.

“My priority will always be the safety and welfare of every Cebuano,” he said. “In times of possible danger, I will always choose to be with the people I serve—your Mayor, your companion, your fellow Cebuano.”

Earlier on Monday, the mayor had been in Manila in his capacity as chairperson of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) to attend a National Peace and Order Council meeting that tackled disaster preparedness, peace and order updates, and national concerns.

He said he was monitoring Verbena throughout the day and awaiting the Disaster Council’s recommendation.

All 80 barangays are coordinating with the CCDRRMO for early warnings and preemptive actions.

Quick-response teams and communication lines are activated citywide.

Archival called on Cebuanos to remain vigilant as rainfall may intensify overnight.

“Please stay updated through official advisories. Prepare what you need. Check on your loved ones and your neighbors,” he said. “We face this together. I am here with you, Cebu City.”(TGP)