Archival defends passage of zoning ordinance, rejects betrayal allegations

Local

MAYOR-ELECT Nestor Archival Sr. on Thursday defended the approval of Cebu City’s revised zoning ordinance and rejected claims of betrayal from market vendors and civil society groups who opposed its swift passage.

"Kung imo tan-awon ang pronouncements sa mga tawo nga nireklamo, murag ni ‘betray’ ko. Now I think mao nana ang nisulod sa ilang utok because they wanted to have more," Archival told reporters in an interview shortly after taking his oath as Cebu City’s 29th mayor.

Archival said he had initially asked outgoing Councilor Joy Pesquera, the ordinance sponsor, to defer the vote.

However, with majority support already secured and the ordinance seen as long overdue, he said it was "unfair" to expect the legislative process to stop.

"I think that's unfair because you have all the time," he said. "Being me as the mayor and Tommy as the vice mayor, we can all say, 'review it.' Then all the people can review it. But why make this kind of situation? This is too early."

The newly approved zoning ordinance reclassifies various areas in Cebu City to align with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), which Archival stressed had been pending for nearly three decades.

He argued that its passage was critical to unlocking national funding, organizing urban development, and eliminating irregularities in land use.

"Tan-awa, wala gyud tay housing project nga klaro because we don't have funding sa national kay wala tay CLUP. Ang atong mga grants, wala tay grants kay wala tay CLUP. We don't know where to put it," he said.

Archival also addressed criticism that the ordinance could affect the future of the Carbon Public Market, a historic city landmark.

"I was the one standing behind [Carbon vendors] when I was a councilor. Now that I'm the mayor, I'm stronger than ever. If you don't believe in that and naa'y mga tawo nga mosulosol ninyo, I cannot do anything. But I'm the mayor of everybody," he said.

He emphasized that Carbon has long been classified as a commercial zone, contrary to vendors' assertions that the new zoning change would lead to privatization.

Meanwhile, vendor groups, including the Carbonhanong Alyansa, CEMVEDCO, and CCUVA, released a joint statement expressing disappointment over the ordinance's final approval.

They said the process lacked transparency and genuine consultation.

"We had hoped for greater public engagement, especially during the final deliberations. The silence of some city officials, particularly BOPK councilors, whom we expected to speak up with us, was especially felt," the statement read.

The groups held on to a signed covenant with Archival and Vice Mayor-elect Tomas Osmeña supporting a 3-point agenda: declaring Carbon a Cultural and Heritage Zone, passing a livelihood protection ordinance, and reviewing the joint venture agreement with a private developer.

Outgoing Councilor Noel Wenceslao also defended the zoning update, saying it was necessary to reflect the city's growth and avoid excessive variance applications.

"Ang zoning ordinance kinahanglan gyud siya revised. For example, in Talamban, that was agricultural zone before. But now wala na'y agriculture. Kinahanglan i-update kay if not, every time naay magtukod, kinahanglan pa'g variance," Wenceslao said.

Councilor Pesquera, the ordinance sponsor, earlier reiterated that Carbon has long been considered commercial, even under the 1996 ordinance.

"Even sa atong ordinance 1996, ang Carbon is already classified as commercial," she said.

Asked about a possible veto from outgoing Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, Pesquera said she doubted it, noting that the ordinance had unanimous support from Garcia’s allies in the council.

Archival maintained that the ordinance's passage, while controversial, serves the broader interests of the city.

"Number one, I was asking supposedly to defer. But everyone already in agreement that this is a good ordinance," Archival said. "The CLUP has been approved already a long time ago. The zoning is only a vehicle of that CLUP."

He assured critics that an oversight committee will study its implementation and review any issues that arise.

"Now, the moment there will be problems, then we will give whatever you want sa study, then sit down there. But if muingon ka, 'hunongon,' I think that's unfair," he said.(TGP)