OUTGOING Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia announced his intention to sign the newly passed revised Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance as soon as it reaches his desk.
With his term ending at noon on June 30, 2025, Garcia said that he will dedicate the weekend to reviewing the document before affixing his signature.
Despite the limited time, Garcia expressed confidence in a press conference on Friday, June 27, in his ability to thoroughly review the ordinance.
“Madala uy, taas pa ang weekend (I can do it. The weekend is long),” he said.
When asked if he would consider vetoing the ordinance, a power he holds as mayor, Garcia denied any such plans.
Garcia said he has long supported updating the zoning ordinance as it has not been revised since 1996.
The outgoing mayor believes that by signing the ordinance, he will provide the incoming administration with a crucial tool for urban improvement.
“These are the things nga akong ibilin sa (that I will leave for) next administration for them to work with enough ammunition to be able to make Cebu a better place to live in,” he said.
Archival’s stand
Meanwhile, Mayor-elect Nestor Archival, in a phone interview on Friday, confirmed that he and vice-mayor elect Tomas Osmeña had not communicated yet since the ordinance’s approval on Wednesday.
Archival addressed the contentious issue of the Carbon Public Market’s zoning. He explained that Carbon has long been designated as a commercial zone, based on the old zoning ordinance. He clarified that what is being converted into commercial zoning under the new ordinance is primarily the Freedom Park area, which was previously “institutional.”
Archival emphasized that even with Freedom Park becoming commercial, it would not be sold, as the contract with Cebu2World Development (C2W) is limited to 25 years. He stated his intention to negotiate with C2W to “maintain the system of Carbon,” particularly by asking them “to not make the stalls too expensive.”
The mayor-elect said that he and Councilor Joy Pesquera, who authored the revision, worked to make the Carbon vendors understand the importance of the ordinance.
Archival argued that without the updated ordinance, the City Government would be unable to avail itself of major projects or accept grants from other countries.
He explained that his absence during the council deliberation on the zoning ordinance was a strategic decision.
“Kon naa ko sa discussion, mohimo ko nga akong i-object (If I was present during the discussion, I could raise an objection),” he said, adding that even if other Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) councilors had objected, they would still have been outnumbered by the majority.
He also said that it would be contradictory for him to object as a councilor but then support the revised Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance as mayor.
Archival believes that approving the zoning ordinance is in the “best interest of everyone.” He warned that if it were deferred, it would be considered “dead,” requiring the entire process to restart, which could take up to two years.
He pledged to soon talk with the vendors to assure them that they will not be adversely affected.
“Ako ni silang ma-eksplikaran para makasabot ni sila nga wala mi maghimog butang nga makadaot sa vendors, sa housing program sa atong syudad. Naghimo mi’g item nga para sa kaayohan sa tanan,” Archival said.
(I will explain to them so they will understand that we are not doing anything that would harm the vendors or the city’s housing program. We are creating something for the good of everyone.)
From his side, Garcia reiterated that the issue with the Carbon Public Market should not hinder the overall development brought by the ordinance’s updates.
“We cannot afford to hostage Carbon for the entire development of the City of Cebu just for that particular issue. So, we have to update gyud,” he said.
He pointed out that without an updated ordinance, future projects would constantly require zoning variances, leading to unnecessary delays and effort.
“It really has to be updated and I am 100 percent for the updating,” he said.
Garcia emphasized his focus on the greater good of the entire city, stating, “Sakto na to ang gibuhat sa council nga gi approve nila and ako na dayon to sign it into law, and I have June 30 of 12 noon to do so,” indicating his firm resolve to enact the ordinance before the turnover of power. / JPS