Heard or Hushed?

As you read this today, the decision of the Cebu Council about the CLUP/Zoning Ordinance in their last session yesterday will have been announced and reported.

- Cherry Piquero-Ballescas [e-mail]

Did the council defer their decision or not?

Wednesday morning, Ms. Catherine Ruiz, Kaabag sa Sugbo Network Coordinator shared her thoughts: “To defer or not to.”

In the impasse over the approval or deferment of Cebu City's CLUP and Zoning Ordinance, I am reminded of the wise words of Manang Seling in the corner carenderia: Kung walay maminaw sa gibati sa naapektohan sa usa ka buhat, awww... walay mapailngan ang tanan.

The stage was set yesterday (Tuesday, June 24) for a dialogue -- one that could have served as a turning point to reached a principled compromise on the CLUP.

But the main actor, the official who had asked for said conversation with affected sectors, including Carbon Market vendors, informal settlers, and concerned CSOs, was conspicuously absent.

Absent as well were members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, whose mandate is to secure public consensus and approve the plan and ZO.

In their place stood a lone technical urban planner, whose communication skills lacked the empathy needed for such a high-stakes (and clearly political) conversation. Out of respect for the effort, CSOs listened.