As zoning vote looms: Carbon vendors cry betrayal

CEBU, Philippines — Just weeks before he assumes office as Cebu City’s top official, Mayor-elect Nestor Archival faces growing criticism over what some see as a possible betrayal of his covenant with Carbon Market vendors, as the battle to defer the city’s proposed Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance intensifies.

The ordinance is scheduled for final deliberation today, Wednesday, during the last regular session of the 16th Sangguniang Panlungsod before newly elected officials take over.

The “Revised Comprehensive Cebu City Zoning Ordinance of 2025” is being described as the most significant piece of legislation for the outgoing council.

Yesterday, various vendor associations held a press conference on a sidewalk near Carbon Market, appealing for the deferment of the zoning ordinance until proper consultations are held.

The ordinance will determine land-use classifications across the city—something that has not been updated in 30 years.

At the same press conference, Erwin Goc-ong read a statement from the Urban Poor Alliance, led by Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez, a known ally of Bando Osmeña–Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), the party under which Archival ran.

In the statement, Fernandez urged a thorough review of the ordinance and questioned whether Archival knew that several social housing sites were missing from the ordinance’s attachments.

In a separate interview, Fernandez said he was also concerned about the possible reclassification of Carbon Market from institutional to commercial land use—and whether Archival was aware of that.

“If this is correct, isn’t this a betrayal of the covenant he made with the Urban Poor and the vendors?” said Fernandez.

He also questioned whether Vice Mayor-elect Tomas Osmeña shares Archival’s position and whether this reflects the collective stance of BOPK.

“Kay akong nagul-an, even at this stage nga murag naay issue of betrayal—whether there is betrayal or not, but it is already being discussed, this early, nga wala pa gani sila kalingkod,” said Fernandez.

In an interview after the vendors’ press conference, Archival said the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), the basis of the zoning ordinance, has been under study for more than three years.

He stressed the importance of the ordinance, stressing that without it, the city could face setbacks in development planning.

“Kung walay CLUP, unsa may basis nato paghimo og mga project, that is the reason why, ang atong mga project diri puros na variance, meaning to say, every time naa tay himuon, kay wala tay klarong CLUP, ang mugawas, maghimo tag variance, sabot-sabot lang,” said Archival.

He said he had already met with Carbon vendors and clarified his position, recalling his opposition to changing the market’s land use from institutional to commercial during earlier deliberations on the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA).

Archival noted, however, that the commercial classification had already been approved by the council despite his efforts to revoke it.

It can be recalled that then-Councilor Archival moved to revoke the commercial status and revert it to

institutional, but he and the minority were outvoted when the body divided the house.

He emphasized that while the Carbon Market is now classified as commercial due to its trading activities, his administration is committed to preventing the sale of the market to private entities.

“Gusto nako na mapadayon nga as is and Carbon,” Archival assured.

Denying any betrayal, Archival said he would speak with Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, proponent of the

ordinance, and request that the measure be withdrawn from final deliberation. Still, he warned that doing so could leave the city without an updated CLUP.

“It’s not a betrayal. I will ask Joy to withdraw… simple as that, so we will focus on something, nga kanang maka focus ko nga walay mag sigeg reklamo, ngano gud intawon nga mang betray ko,” said Archival.

“I’ve been there with the council, akoy ni dupa ana nila (vendors). Wala gyuy usa nga nitindog ana nila,” he added.

Archival also said he spoke directly with Fernandez about the missing socialized housing sites and raised the issue with the Cebu City Planning Development Office (CPDO).

In response, Fernandez said Archival’s awareness of these omissions amounted to a “betrayal” of his covenant. He stressed they were not opposing the ordinance itself but rather its seemingly rushed passage, and that all they wanted was proper consultation.

“They are in a hurry, ngano man? Nganong dili man nato maistoryaha,” said Fernandez.

He said he tried to contact Archival before releasing his statement but did not get a response.

As the council convenes for the ordinance’s final reading today, Fernandez said they would be watching how Archival upholds his commitment to the vendors.

He said he expects Archival to vote against the measure, even if he ends up outnumbered.

“I will not call it a betrayal. Basta let him take a stand on the ordinance,” said Fernandez.

“If he votes against the ordinance, and he is outnumbered, then I will not blame him for it. But he has to vote against it. He should stand by that kay he made a covenant with the vendors, and he also made a covenant with the Urban Poor,” he added.

Vendors remain hopeful

For their part, the Carbonhanong Alyansa alang sa Reporma ug Bahandianong Ogma sa mga Nanginabuhi (CARBON) remains hopeful that the council would defer the ordinance until the new council assumes office.

During their press conference yesterday with civil society groups and urban poor advocates, they again called on the council to reconsider reclassifying the Carbon Public Market as institutional land use.

The press conference was initially scheduled to take place inside the park. However, media witnessed a dispute between the group and an officer who prohibited them from using the space, reportedly because the area is now owned by a private company.

The officer said the group needed permission from the company to hold any event there.

Some members of the group said the prohibition was already a “pre-taste” of what would happen if the ordinance passes, since Freedom Park had long been a venue for public assembly.

“Kanus-a paman ni na private ang Freedom Park. Freedom Park gani, why don’t we have freedom?” said one member.

Determined to push through, the group moved to the sidewalk and continued its call to defer the ordinance, even with limited space.

At their “Save Carbon Public Market” press conference, they reiterated their appeal to postpone approval until a transparent consultation with stakeholders—including vendors, the urban poor, and civil society—could be held.

Goc-ong said they were not opposing the entire Zoning Ordinance but were pushing for a more sustainable, inclusive process. He emphasized they reject the reclassification of Carbon Market as commercial, calling it “premature, unjustified, and dangerous.”

The group argued the ordinance could harm thousands of vendors and irreversibly damage the market’s identity as a public, cultural, and economic institution.

Maria Pino, head of the Cebu City United Vendors Association (CCUVA), said that even without official clarity, they had been told Freedom Park was now private property—preventing them from holding a press conference there.

“Karon lang gani gi abog nata,” said Pino.

Goc-ong said Archival assured them Carbon Market would remain under their control, but he warned that if the commercial status persists, privatization could remove their stakeholder rights. He said they gave Archival the benefit of the doubt and assumed he was unaware that key sectors were not consulted in the CLUP’s approval.

“Na overlook niya nga approving this would greatly affect sa iyang saad nga mga vendors nga di mi maapektohan o kaha basin si Mayor Nestor Archival, gipasaligan sa CPDO… ug ubang ahensya, nga ato lang ning ipadayon kay di man ni sila maapektohan, zoning ra man ni,” said Goc-ong. — Caren Itolle, CNU Journalism Intern (FREEMAN)