Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera has issued a strong call for a temporary but comprehensive halt to all development activities in the city's upland areas. The appeal, made during a regular session on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, warns that ongoing projects are escalating environmental dangers for communities below.
Immediate Halt and Policy Review Demanded
In a privilege speech delivered on December 16, Garganera directly urged the city's executive branch to implement a moratorium. He emphasized the need to pause activities like slope cutting, quarrying, and hillside construction. The councilor stressed that this pause should allow for a critical review of all existing policies, permits, and environmental risk assessments related to mountain and watershed zones.
The proposed moratorium would be citywide and would stop the issuance of any new permits, clearances, endorsements, or approvals for upland projects. Garganera stated that this freeze should remain until developers can prove full compliance with national environmental laws and specific flood-mitigation requirements.
Consequences of Unchecked Development
Garganera linked the urgent call to the visible and recurring consequences already affecting Cebu City. He pointed to severe flooding, rivers clogged with silt, and destabilized slopes as direct results of years of development without adequate safeguards. "We can still act today then we can still protect the people of Cebu City," he asserted, framing the moratorium as a preventative measure for future safety.
The councilor clarified that the scope of the halt would not be limited but would be subject to the final declaration and duration set by the City Mayor's office.
Formation of a Technical Review Team
Beyond the immediate stop, Garganera proposed a structured solution to address the root causes. He called for the creation of a composite technical team to be led by the Office of the Mayor. This group would include experts from multiple fields and agencies:
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau
- Mines and Geosciences Bureau
- Department of Public Works and Highways
- Cebu City Planning and Development Office
- Office of the Building Official
- Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office
- Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office
- Representatives from the academe, engineering, hydrology, geology, and civil society groups
This team would have a clear mandate: to conduct a comprehensive review of all upland development policies, zoning ordinances, environmental rules, and risk assessments. They would be tasked with submitting concrete policy recommendations to both the Mayor and the City Council within a strict 60-day timeframe.
The move underscores growing local government concern over balancing urban growth with ecological preservation and community resilience against natural disasters.
