Council seeks review on upland projects

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council is now seeking a comprehensive review of residential developments in the upland areas after Councilor Alvin Arcilla proposed a temporary suspension of new condominium and subdivision projects in Talamban due to worsening traffic and water shortages.

The body, during its latest regular session, instead referred the measure to committees after a lengthy debate, with other councilors stressing the need for clear standards, technical studies, and fairness.

The resolution, authored by Arcilla, urges the Cebu City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO), and Office of the Building Official (OBO) to suspend the acceptance and approval of new high-density residential projects in the northern and upland areas of Cebu City, particularly Talamban, until the Metropolitan Cebu Water District addresses water supply problems and traffic decongestion measures, such as the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit, are implemented.

It emphasizes that existing households must first be adequately served before additional demand is allowed.

During council discussions, Arcilla warned that pending applications could add more than 1,000 housing units in Talamban alone.

Councilor Dave Tumulak countered that the resolution covered all northern and upland areas, not just Talamban, and called it “a very bad precedent, especially for those developers.”

He urged the referral of the measure to the Committee on Environment and Urban Planning.

Councilor Winston Pepito, for his part, asked for specific standards to define a high-density residential development, particularly the number of units that may comprise a building.

He also questioned why only housing projects were being targeted when malls and schools also consume water and generate traffic.

Councilor Harry Eran called the “proposal premature without hard data”.

“Unless naa tay hard copy to prove nga mao ni ang current status sa area that warrants moratorium therein… we have to look at our zoning ordinance,” says Eran.

Councilor Mikel Rama added that suspending applications outright would violate the ministerial duties of the CPDO and property rights, suggesting instead that the resolution be reworded to request reports from the CPDO, BPLO, and OBO.

Pepito further questioned whether traffic congestion could ever truly be solved.

“Murag lisod man gani sabton bisag sa usang nasod ang kani traffic,” Pepito noted and asked whether a resolution alone was sufficient or if an ordinance was required.

Tumulak reiterated that the issue needed “more technical scrutiny and assessment,” suggesting that the matter be referred to the Committee on Urban Development of the City Council under Councilor Harold Go.

Arcilla eventually yielded, modifying his motion to refer the matter to the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Urban Planning, which the council approved.

Back in December 2025, Councilor Joel Garganera called for a citywide moratorium on upland development after Typhoon Tino, warning of irreversible environmental damage.

The council supported his call, and Mayor Nestor Archival publicly backed it, promising reviews and cease-and-desist orders.

However, no executive order has been issued yet. By August 2026, the council continued to call on Archival for a comprehensive report on watershed protection and upland development.

Separately, Archival also ordered inspections of 65 developers in the South District in August 2026, mainly to check compliance with flood-mitigation measures, particularly detention ponds and catchment facilities, to address downstream flooding. — /IHM (FREEMAN)