Archival defends silence on Monterrazas controversy

Local

CEBU City Mayor Nestor Archival has dismissed criticism over his supposed silence on the Monterrazas de Cebu project.

He added that calls for him to speak out were merely meant to stir public division despite the issue already being under national jurisdiction.

Archival made comments after Councilor Jun Alcover again questioned the mayor’s lack of public pronouncements on the controversial upland development, long blamed for flooding and environmental damage.

The mayor stressed that Monterrazas was approved before his term and that the city government had already acted when problems emerged.

“Kaning pag-approve ani dili pa ko mayor,” Archival said, explaining that after flooding incidents, the city ordered the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO), together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), to conduct an investigation.

“That investigation was submitted to the national, and the national already made a pronouncement nga file-lan sila ug kaso,” he said.

With cases already pending, Archival questioned the continued calls for him to intervene.

“Unsa may gusto ni Alcover nako? There’s already a resolution nga file-lan sila. Kita naghatag tag investigation, atong gihimo,” he said. “There’s already pending decision. Unsa pa man diay atong buhaton?”

Archival said he deliberately avoided repeatedly commenting on the issue to prevent unnecessary politicization.

“Sometimes dili ko ganahan mo-estorya kay dili ko ganahan mahimo ning issue because there is no issue at all regarding Monterrazas,” he said. “Unsaon pagliha nga there’s already a case in the national?”

He added that portraying him as inactive was misleading the public.

“Just to stir lang gyud public division ba nga walay gihimo ang mayor,” Archival said.

The mayor reiterated that the city would not conduct a parallel investigation into Monterrazas, citing the ongoing DENR-led probe.

“There is no longer a need for a city-based investigation because there is already an independent investigation,” he said. “We don’t have to duplicate that.”

Despite pushing back against criticism, Archival reaffirmed his support for a moratorium on new upland developments, citing environmental risks and worsening flooding.

“I will issue a memorandum to the department heads, especially CCENRO and zoning offices, to look closely at new developments, particularly in the uplands,” he said.

The moratorium, he clarified, would mainly apply to new applications, while projects approved under previous administrations would be reviewed for compliance with environmental safeguards.

Archival’s position aligns with calls from Councilor Joel Garganera, chair of the City Council’s Committee on Environment, who earlier pushed for a citywide moratorium to address flooding, sedimentation, and long-standing weaknesses in upland regulation.

“This is not against development,” Garganera said. “It is for responsible and science-based growth.”(TGP)