Citywide ban on upland development pushed following Typhoon Tino

A citywide moratorium on upland and watershed development is being pushed at the Cebu City Council following the deadly impact of Typhoon Tino, which left 33 people dead and renewed concerns over flooding, landslides, and environmental degradation linked to unchecked construction in mountain areas.

During the regular session of the City Council on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, Councilor Joel Garganera delivered a privilege speech urging the city’s executive branch to immediately impose a temporary ban on future upland development projects.

The proposed moratorium would cover activities such as slope cutting, quarrying, and hillside construction, particularly those identified as posing “serious” environmental and disaster risks.

Garganera filed a resolution calling for the suspension of all new permits, clearances, endorsements, and approvals related to upland development while the city undertakes a comprehensive review of existing policies and projects.

The resolution seeks to ensure that development activities comply with national environmental laws and flood-mitigation requirements before any new approvals are granted.

The move follows the devastation caused by Typhoon Tino, which struck on Nov. 4 and triggered widespread flooding and landslides in several areas of Cebu City and nearby localities.

Critics and environmental advocates have long argued that recurring floods, silted rivers, and unstable slopes affecting densely populated lowland communities are the cumulative result of poor land-use planning, weak enforcement of regulations, and unchecked development in upland and watershed zones.

According to Garganera, the moratorium is intended to prevent further environmental damage that could worsen disaster risks.

He emphasized that the measure is not meant to halt economic progress but to ensure that growth is guided by safety and sustainability.

“If we act decisively today, we can still protect Cebu and reduce the risks faced by our people,” Garganera said.

The resolution proposes that the declaration and duration of the moratorium be determined by the mayor.

It also calls for the creation of a composite technical team that would conduct a citywide review of upland development policies, zoning ordinances, and risk assessments.

The team would be led by the Office of the Mayor and include representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the City Planning and Development Office, the Office of the Building Official, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office.

Members from the academe and civil society groups are also proposed to be part of the review body.

Under the resolution, the technical team would be tasked to submit policy recommendations within 60 days.

Beyond the proposed moratorium, concerns were also raised about Cebu City’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) for 2023–2032.

Environmental planner Augusto Agosto criticized the plan for allegedly failing to comply with Republic Act 11995, or the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (Pencas) Act.

The law requires local governments to integrate natural capital accounting into land-use planning by defining carrying capacity, watershed limits, and critical ecosystem services as enforceable constraints.

Agosto said the current CLUP lacks these required elements and remains based on zoning maps dating back to 1996, which were carried over into the latest revisions.

He argued that the plan does not adequately reconcile land-use allocations with environmental carrying capacity and climate-related risks.

Agosto has submitted a formal notice recommending that the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) withhold approval of the CLUP until a Pencas integration addendum is included.

The council resolution also highlights the need for a citywide resettlement framework for families living in high-risk areas such as riverbanks and easements.

The proposed framework would be led by the Department of Welfare for the Urban Poor and the Local Housing Board and is intended to be implemented as a priority before large-scale engineering interventions.

The proposal recognizes that disaster risk is not only an environmental issue but also a socio-economic concern, as vulnerable communities often reside in danger zones.

With the resolution now before the executive branch, attention is focused on the mayor’s decision on whether to declare the moratorium and how it will be implemented.

At the same time, the DHSUD’s action on the CLUP review could determine whether Cebu City will be required to revise its long-term development plan to align with national environmental laws.

Observers note that the outcome of both decisions could have lasting implications for urban planning and disaster risk reduction, not only for Cebu City but also for other highly urbanized areas facing similar challenges.