Integration of existing trees in development plans pushed

To address growing concerns over deforestation in Cebu City, Councilor Joel Garganera is pushing for legislative measures that will require developers to integrate existing trees into their site development plans.

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In a statement to The Freeman, Garganera, who chairs the City Council’s Committee on Environment, recalled that last year, the Cebu City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) raised alarms over deforestation in the city due to various causes, including climate change and the El Niño phenomenon.

He also cited the construction of illegal structures within the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL), allegedly done without the city’s knowledge, as another contributing factor.

To address these issues, Garganera said the CPDO—through Architect Yumi Espina, Architect Annie Cuizon, and the rest of the head staff—fast-tracked the final submission of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP). The CLUP, he said, clearly identifies and regulates areas within the CCPL where infrastructure development should not be permitted.