Upland development moratorium

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City is at a crossroads as environmental concerns and planning mandates converge into a decisive call for action.

In a privilege speech before the 17th Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday, City Councilor Joel Garganera, who chairs the committee on environment, urged his colleagues to declare a citywide moratorium on all upland development projects, citing worsening floods and sedimentation that continue to plague the city.

He warned that unchecked slope cutting, quarrying, and upland construction have eroded watersheds and river systems, undermining downstream flood control efforts and putting communities at risk.

“This is not just an environmental issue,” Garganera said. “It is a failure of planning, a failure of enforcement, and a failure of responsibility on our part as leaders.”

He reminded the council of a lesson learned early in life:

“When trees are cut and mountains are destroyed, floods will happen. This is basic knowledge we all learned growing up, yet it is the very lesson we failed to follow.”

Garganera painted a stark picture of the consequences—rivers turning brown with sediments, desilting efforts rendered futile, and families suffering as floodwaters rise.

“Unless we address what is happening upstream and stop the uncontrolled alteration of our mountains, we will remain trapped in this vicious cycle,” he said.

Quoting environmental lawyer Antonio Oposa, he added: “We have cut down our forests and abused nature for so long and thought we could get away with it. But nothing is for free. At one time or the other, we will have to pay—and the longer we wait, the higher will be the price.”

The resolution calls on Mayor Nestor Archival to declare the moratorium and convene a composite team of national agencies, city offices, scientists, engineers, and civil society groups to review ongoing upland projects and policies within 60 days.

During the moratorium, no new permits or clearances would be issued until compliance with national environmental laws and flood mitigation requirements is established.

Garganera stressed that the measure is not anti development but pro responsibility.

“This is not meant to punish anyone, but to protect our people, our resources, and the future of our city.”

He recalled the tragedy of Typhoon Tino, which claimed 33 lives, as a painful reminder of the dangers of allowing settlements in waterways while upland destruction continued unchecked.

“While flood control structures were constructed downstream, unchecked destruction upstream continued unabated,” he said, framing the moratorium as an opportunity to correct “a long standing failure.”

Garganera also called for a citywide resettlement framework to relocate families living in waterways, riverbanks, and other danger zones. He described it as Phase 1 of the solution before any engineering interventions are undertaken.

“Someday, our future generations—our children, our grandchildren, our nieces and nephews—will be asked to draw what Cebu looks like. Unsang hulagway sa Cebu ang atong ipabilin sa ilang hunahuna? Ang hapsay ug limpyo nga Cebu, layo sa kalamidad? O ang Cebu nga guba na ang kabukiran ug hugaw na ang mga suba?” he asked.

“Let us make sure the Cebu they draw is one we can be proud of. If we act decisively today, we can still protect Cebu and reduce the risks faced by our people. If we delay, there will come a time when no ordinance, no project, and no amount of funding will be enough to undo the harm that has already been done.”

In a related development, environmental planner and economist Augusto “Gus” Agosto filed a formal notice with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), questioning the compliance of Cebu City’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) 2023–2032 with the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) Act.

In his letter to DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling, Agosto argued that while the CLUP may be procedurally compliant, it fails to integrate natural capital accounting, ecological thresholds, and hazard informed planning as mandated by RA 11995 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.

He noted that the city’s zoning framework has long relied on ordinances dating back to 1996, without a fully approved EO 72 compliant CLUP—resulting in fragmented sectoral solutions that do not reconcile land use allocations with environmental limits and climate risks.

Agosto stressed that Cebu’s rivers, mountains, and shorelines are not “outside factors” to be ignored—they are the very foundation of the city’s economy and land use decisions.

He warned that approving the CLUP without PENCAS integration would constitute statutory non compliance and expose the city to foreseeable disaster risks.

His filing, later released to the media, underscored DHSUD’s duty to withhold approval until Cebu City submits a revised plan demonstrating compliance with national law.

“It is respectfully recommended that DHSUD withhold approval of the Cebu City CLUP in its present form; require the submission of a PENCAS integration addendum or revision demonstrating compliance with RA 11995 and its IRR; ensure that environmental, watershed, and hazard findings operate as determinative constraints in land use and zoning decisions; and document such compliance prior to any approval action,” Agosto said.

“The objective is to strengthen, not derail, the CLUP,” he added, emphasizing the need to align the city’s growth strategy with ecological realities and long term public welfare.

Together, Garganera’s moratorium proposal and Agosto’s compliance notice highlight a growing consensus that Cebu’s future depends on reconciling development with environmental stewardship.

Both measures frame the issue not as an obstacle to progress but as a necessary safeguard for lives, livelihoods, and the city’s legacy.

As Garganera stressed, “This is the legacy we are shaping today. What we protect now is what they will learn, remember, and pass on.” — (FREEMAN)