Moratorium on upland development projects sought

Local

A CEBU City councilor has called for a citywide moratorium on all upland development projects, citing environmental degradation, recurring floods, and what he described as long-standing failures in planning and enforcement.

Councilor Joel Garganera, chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Environment, made the call in a privilege speech during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod on Tuesday, December 16.

Garganera said years of unchecked upland development, including quarrying and slope-cutting activities, have weakened mountains and watersheds, resulting in increased soil erosion and river siltation that contribute to flooding in low-lying areas.

He said continued upland activity has undermined flood mitigation efforts, noting that river desilting becomes ineffective when sediment from the mountains continues to flow downstream.

“This is not just an environmental issue. It is a failure of planning, a failure of enforcement, and a failure of responsibility on our part as leaders,” Garganera said.

In his speech, Garganera warned that all upland development carries inherent risks, particularly slope modification and increased sediment contribution, which reduce the capacity of rivers to contain floodwaters.

He cited the cumulative impact of environmental degradation, recalling that despite the construction of flood-control structures downstream, unchecked destruction upstream persisted for years.

Garganera also referenced past disasters, including Typhoon Tino, which claimed 33 lives, as evidence of the consequences of ignoring environmental and land-use planning.

The proposed resolution calls for the declaration of a moratorium on all upland development projects in Cebu City, not limited to quarrying and slope-cutting activities. The moratorium will take effect upon declaration by the city mayor and will remain in force for a period to be determined by the mayor’s office.

The measure further directs the Office of the Mayor to form a composite team composed of national government agencies, city departments, technical experts, members of the academe, and civil society organizations to conduct a comprehensive review of existing upland development policies, zoning ordinances, environmental regulations, and risk assessments.

The composite team is tasked to submit its findings and policy recommendations to the Office of the Mayor and the Sangguniang Panlungsod within 60 days from receipt of the resolution.

During the moratorium period, the resolution provides that no new permits, clearances, endorsements, or approvals for upland development projects shall be issued by any city department or office until compliance with national environmental laws and flood-mitigation requirements is established.

The proposed measure also calls for the creation of a citywide resettlement framework for families living in danger zones, waterways, riverbanks, easements, and other high-risk areas, to be implemented ahead of major engineering interventions.

At the end of the session, the City Council voted to note Garganera’s privilege speech and refer the proposed resolution for further consideration.(TGP)