THE Carbon-hanong Alyansa Alang sa Reporma ug Bahandianong Ogma sa mga Nanginabuhi (Carbon) has called for the deferment of the final reading of the revised Zoning Ordinance. This plea comes after the Cebu City Council approved the ordinance on its second reading.
Ann Marie Ariosa, a representative of Carbon, issued the call on Monday, June 23, 2025. Carbon is advocating for the retention of the institutional zoning of Carbon Public Market and seeks to allow the incoming administration, with a new public mandate, to lead “true, inclusive consultations.”
The City Council’s decision to proceed with the second reading approval was unexpected, as earlier discussions had suggested the ordinance would be deferred to the next administration.
In a statement sent to the media, Carbon argues that the ordinance, which impacts every district of Cebu City, has been rushed. The group cited “only one public hearing, limited consultation and no fully ratified Comprehensive Land Use Plan (Clup) as its legal basis.”
A public hearing was conducted on June 11, with representatives from the City Planning and Development Office, the National Real Estate Association’s Metro Cebu chapter and the Carbon Market Vendors’ Association, among others.
Carbon expressed concern that other marginalized communities may not have had sufficient time to study or respond to the proposed changes, stating, “Their silence is not consent. It is a symptom of exclusion.”
The group urged the council not to “sacrifice due process and public participation just to meet a deadline,” asserting that “a flawed process cannot lead to sound planning.”
A primary point of contention for Carbon is the proposed reclassification of Carbon Public Market from its current “Institutional” status to “Commercial.” The group contends this change “will destroy its role as a heritage zone, a public service and the poor man’s market.”
However, Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, who authored the revision of the Zoning Ordinance, told SunStar Cebu in a text message on Monday that the 1996 Zoning Ordinance had already classified Carbon as commercial, not institutional.
Carbon’s petition argues that the Carbon area is “not just land. It is culture. It is survival. It is dignity for farmers, fisherfolk, small vendors and consumers from all over Cebu, Visayas and Mindanao.”
The group warned that reclassifying it to a commercial zone “paves the way for malls, hotels, and exclusive development, not for the poor, but for profit.” The group questioned the council, “Wala na bay pobre sa Sugbo nga nanginabuhi og baratong merkado?” (Are there no more poor in Cebu who need an affordable market?)
Addressing criticisms that they are “holding hostage” the Clup and Zoning Ordinance, and questions about sacrificing one market for the good of the city, Carbon responded: “You cannot build a better Cebu by demolishing its soul.” They firmly stated, “This is not obstruction. This is our right to be heard.”
Carbon reiterates its call for the deferment of the final reading of the Zoning Ordinance and its advocacy for retaining the institutional zoning of Carbon Public Market to allow for truly inclusive consultations by the incoming administration. / JPS