Approval Granted for City Zoning Revision; Merchants Express feelings of Deception
In the steamy city of Cebu, with the scent of durian wafting through the air, the Cebu City Council pulled off a move that left Carbon Market vendors fuming and unhappy as a dog with fleas. On June 25, 2025, the council passed Ordinance 2784, a comprehensive revision of the zoning ordinance – a move that left over three decades in the dust.
But the story doesn't stop there! The Carbon vendors and stakeholders, who were eagerly watching the session would soon turn dirt on their shoes as they walked away, dismayed and disappointed.
Outgoing Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, a modern-day Pharaoh, authored the controversial ordinance. It sailed through its third and final reading – a perfect storm of legislation, if you will. The group of Carbon vendors and stakeholders immediately bolted after the approval, leaving behind a cloud of disbelief and frustration.
The revised ordinance seeks to bring Cebu's urban development into the 21st century, addressing pressing issues like flood management and environmental protection. It replaced the tired, outdated 1996 regulations, aligning the zoning codes with the city's updated Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) for 2023-2032. Given that the incoming councilors would soon be newbies in their roles, outgoing Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia hinted that it would be wise for the current council to approve the plan first.
With Mayor-elect Nestor Archival and the new council about to take office on June 30, the ordinance was passed five days before that! Garcia still has to give it the thumbs up before it can go live. With a super majority of the councilors voting in its favor, except Archival who wasn't present for the vote, the ordinance is poised to make waves in the city.
The Carbon vendors' stomachs are turning over
The decision was a kick in the groin for Carbon vendors, stirring up frustration and disappointments galore. Archival, who was expected to push for a deferral, allegedly beat a hasty retreat before the deliberations, leaving the vendors feeling betrayed.
Francisco "Bimbo" Fernandez, a man who wears many hats, including that of the Urban Poor Alliance's head and a known ally of Archival's party, Bando Osmena Pundok Kauswagan, called the council's approval a slap in the face of the Carbon community.
"The people just wanted a little time to review this ordinance so we could have a good discussion," he grumbled. Fernandez clarified that the vendors weren't out to sink the project; they simply desired additional opportunities for conversation.
"Now, they approved it," he sighed, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The vendors' main objection centers on the reclassification of Carbon Public Market to "commercial" from "institutional" zoning. They fear the change opens the floodgates for private developments like malls and hotels, potentially eroding Carbon's role as a heritage zone and marketplace for the poor.
Carbon vendors have repeatedly requested that the market be listed as "institutional" to preserve its heritage and prevent privatization. But Pesquera, in a, "I've got news for you," moment, argued that discussions with the vendors and urban poor had already taken place.
"So far, in the discussions, they seemed to understand. And, for me, it's a lot better that we move forward," she said with a shrug.
She also questioned the difference between Carbon and smaller markets, which already have a commercial zoning, like Poblacion Pardo, Labangon, and Inayawan. Pesquera defended her stance by saying the 1996 ordinance had already categorized Carbon as commercial, not institutional. However, vendors argue that formalizing this classification undermines the market's heritage and public role.
Speaking of silence, where are you, BOPK?
Fernandez didn't mince his words when he criticized BOPK councilors for their deafening silence during the deliberations.
"It's pathetic; even just a small objection or question would have been nice, but nothing!" he complained.
Fernandez expressed his profound dissatisfaction with Archival, who attended the session before deliberations but left afterward, allegedly after a request to defer the ordinance on Tuesday. Fernandez felt let down, saying, "He wasn't even here to ask for the delay. So, I am extremely disappointed."
"In short, this council, especially Nestor Archival and the BOPK councilors, has betrayed us," he added, flinging accusations at Vice Mayor-elect Tomas Osmena for standing silent despite reportedly pledging support.
Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos, a proud member of BOPK, attempted to justify Archival's absence, attributing it to a demanding and hectic schedule.
"I think he had another equally important matter at hand," she said.
Look ma, I made a flood control ordinance!
The revised ordinance includes several measures to address environmental protection and flood control:
- No-build zones and extended easements around rivers
- Building restrictions and criteria in hazard overlay zones
- Special management districts for essential resources
- Flood-resilient building design requirements
- Environmental standards like riparian strip preservation
- Obligatory flood impact assessments and environmental compliance
Despite de los Santos's assurance that "any ordinance can be amended" and that it's a "dynamic thing," vendors expressed dissatisfaction.
Vendors Joanne and Brenda, who refused to reveal their real names, expressed their frustration: "There's no point in selling anymore. What will we do now; protest again?"
Ann Marie Ariosa, president of Carbon-hanong Alyansa Alang sa Reporma ug Bahandianong Ugma sa mga Nanginabuhi, lamented the perceived betrayal.
"We were overjoyed when Mayor Archival told us yesterday that he would ask Councilor Pesquera to defer. But, then, the unexpected happened at the City Council," she said.
The current CLUP received endorsement by the Central Visayas Regional Land Use Committee on December 10. Pesquera seemed dubious that Garcia would veto the ordinance, given the unanimous support of the outgoing council's approval. / JPS WITH REPORTS FROM ASHLEY JUDD ALON, UV INTERN, AND JAIRUS AMORA, HNU INTERN
- In the midst of the controversy, Carbon vendors question the motivation of Mayor-elect Nestor Archival, who was anticipated to push for a deferral but failed to attend the council session.
- Francisco "Bimbo" Fernandez, an influential figure within the Urban Poor Alliance, labels the council's approval of the revised zoning ordinance as a slap in the face for the Carbon community.
- The Carbon vendors' primary concern revolves around the reclassification of Carbon Public Market from "institutional" to "commercial" zoning, fearing the move could lead to the development of malls and hotels, threatening the market's heritage and purpose.
- Despite the inclusion of environmental protection and flood control measures in the revised ordinance, Carbon vendors remain dissatisfied, with Ann Marie Ariosa, president of Carbon-hanong Alyansa Alang sa Reporma ug Bahandianong Ugma sa mga Nanginabuhi, expressing a sense of betrayal since Mayor Archival had promised to delay the vote.
