- 25 minutes ago
ARE WE READY FOR THE NEXT DISASTER?
Are the lessons from Cebu’s past disasters translating into real improvements on the ground?
As the city faces challenges involving flooding, watershed protection, urban development, and climate change, questions remain about the effectiveness of current measures and the plans needed to reduce future risks.
Architect Joseph Micheal Espina, co-chair of the Cebu City CCDC and a member of the Zoning Board, joins Beyond the Headlines to discuss Cebu’s progress in disaster resilience, ongoing initiatives, and the gaps that still need to be addressed.
What more must be done to ensure a safer, more sustainable, and disaster-resilient Cebu?
Look Deeper. Think Better.
Are the lessons from Cebu’s past disasters translating into real improvements on the ground?
As the city faces challenges involving flooding, watershed protection, urban development, and climate change, questions remain about the effectiveness of current measures and the plans needed to reduce future risks.
Architect Joseph Micheal Espina, co-chair of the Cebu City CCDC and a member of the Zoning Board, joins Beyond the Headlines to discuss Cebu’s progress in disaster resilience, ongoing initiatives, and the gaps that still need to be addressed.
What more must be done to ensure a safer, more sustainable, and disaster-resilient Cebu?
Look Deeper. Think Better.
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NewsTranscript
00:17It starts with a fresh shot of espresso. Bold, rich, pulled just right.
00:26Then comes the milk. Steamed smooth, creamy, and balanced. The perfect latte is not brushed. It is crafted one cup
00:37at a time. Your perfect latte is ready. Coffee first, then everything else.
00:45How have we learned from Typhoon Tino and how are we addressing Cebu's flooding, traffic congestion, and resilience?
00:53Good afternoon. Welcome to Beyond the Headlines. I'm DJ Moises and today's conversation is brought to us by Coffee First.
01:00Almost a year after Typhoon Tino, Cebu continues to face challenges in flooding, traffic congestion, and urban development.
01:09Let's look deeper and think better. Joining us today is urban planner and architect and the co-chair of the
01:18Cebu City Development Council and a member of the planning board, architect Joseph Manuel Yumi Espina.
01:26So, hello, architect Yumi. Welcome to Beyond the Headlines.
01:29Joseph Michael. It's not Manuel. It's Joseph Michael.
01:32Ah, Joseph Michael.
01:34Good afternoon, DJ Moises. Thank you for inviting me. Over.
01:38No, actually, on a personal note, I'm a big fan of your work, even in private practice and in the
01:49efforts also that you're doing to also support our government leaders for us to move city development better forward.
02:01So, the first question that I have, and thank you for joining us today also.
02:08So, the first question that I have is because on November 4, that's already the anniversary of Typhoon Tino.
02:17And I know that there were a lot of lessons that we are learning because of that in the context
02:24of Gen Age, in the context of flooding and planning in general.
02:30So, since then, until now, what are the changes that at least you are seeing?
02:37Well, actually, initially, I was really impressed by the reaction in the national when they sent Secretaries on here and
02:47looked at the problems.
02:48That's the first step, actually, if you know.
02:50And for me, it was actually a confirmation of what we really knew beforehand.
02:58It was confirmed by Typhoon Tino.
03:01Because if you remember when I was here last time, I was talking about those watersheds.
03:08So, it really boils down to watersheds.
03:12And then, I showed you the larger watersheds, which is like a ring around Cebu.
03:20So, that's exactly where Typhoon Tino struck.
03:24And I explained that it was about 438 millimeters in one day when the annual average is only 200 millimeters
03:34for the monthly average.
03:38So, it was very intense and it fell on those larger watersheds.
03:44That's why the flooding of Tino was in Mananga, Kwakwot, and these larger watersheds.
03:51But not on the smaller watersheds here inside the city center.
03:58Well, actually, there are a lot of learnings that we have seen.
04:03But for me, it was mostly confirmation of what we knew.
04:07You're correct.
04:08It was going to happen.
04:11And for our viewers, because maybe some of them are asking, why are they talking about ways to improve the
04:20city in the context of flooding when we are moving towards El Niño?
04:25And if our viewers would remember when we guested Pag-Asa last week, we were reminded actually that Typhoon Ondoy
04:33happened on a period within what was then also an El Niño period.
04:40So, while we are anticipating drought, but a typhoon and intense rainfall every once in a while does not necessarily
04:52mean it's impossible to happen during El Niño.
04:55That's why it's still a good topic to discuss.
05:00So, you mentioned, because I saw the material that you also presented, and there were four watersheds in that presentation
05:09that we need to look a little more closely.
05:12Can you tell our viewers about those four watersheds and why they are important if we are to solve and
05:22prevent flooding the city?
05:26Well, the four watersheds, the larger watersheds, the greater watersheds we call them, is surrounding the urban core of Metro
05:35Cebu.
05:35So, this is Mananga, and then there's Butuanon, and then there's Kotkot, and Kansaga, which are also part of the
05:47watershed of Cebu City.
05:50It's very important because these are bigger watersheds.
05:54And if you travel the Transcentral Highway, when you reach the portion where Ayala Heights was, on the left side
06:04of that Transcentral Highway is the Mananga Watershed.
06:07It's very big from Mananga all the way down to Talisay.
06:11And then on the right side is the Butuanon Watershed.
06:15It goes all the way down to Mandaway.
06:17And so, that Typhoon Tino fell on that area.
06:20You know now that it's very weird because of climate change.
06:26There is intense rainfall, and then there is incessant, and then it's localized.
06:33You know, when it's raining up there, it doesn't rain here in the urban area.
06:37But on the other hand, when it rains in the urban area, it doesn't rain in the uphills.
06:44So, it's really localized.
06:46So, it's different before, you know, we used to have, you know, it's all over the rain, but now it's
06:52localized.
06:53So, you have to watch out for that because in Typhoon Tino, there was practically no rain in the urban
06:59area.
06:59It was raining very hard in those larger watersheds.
07:03And in about one or two hours, it came down to, you know, Villa de Rio and Mananga, where the
07:12devastation was really very great.
07:14So, that's why it's important to study this in terms of watershed.
07:20It should be watershed-based if you talk about water and flooding instead of just, you know, very reactive, you
07:29know, thoughts about the causes of flooding.
07:34So, since then until the present, what are the changes, man, that at least you are seeing in terms of
07:44how we approach urban development?
07:48Well, well, in my case, actually, the biggest change was the approval of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
07:55We had it approved by the council and signed by the mayor last year, the day before I retired in
08:03City Hall in June of 2025.
08:07And I think we have that long-term plan and all of that I discussed is in that plan already.
08:14I think that's a big achievement for us.
08:17But then again, bringing it down to implementation is the real problem.
08:24But I'm glad that the city already recognizes that the main problems we have now is flooding, traffic, and garbage.
08:33He said the three.
08:34And of course, there is housing, there is food even, health, education, all of that.
08:40And these are now being addressed by the present administration.
08:44I'm glad that they are aligned to the CLUP.
08:48They have, they conducted an ELA, you know, Executive Legislative Agenda together, and then they have that 10-point agenda
08:58for the next three years.
09:00So all of the discussions in the CLUP is being addressed in the ELA now.
09:06So in that context then, and this is not just my observation with the city, but in the Philippines in
09:14general, when we look at legislation, some of our legislators or even experts would say that we already have a
09:21law, but it's just a matter of implementing it.
09:23That's the same also when it comes to planning.
09:26A lot of our experts would also say, oh, we already have a plan for that.
09:30It's just a matter of implementation.
09:32So since the signing then and the approval of the CLUP, and then ELA also that followed, what are the
09:41steps, man, at least that you are observing that it is these two are really moving forward?
09:49Yeah.
09:49Well, actually, if you look at the planning framework, there's a process that is very clear in planning based on
10:00the law.
10:00So first you come up with the long-term plan, which is the CLUP, and then it is followed by
10:07more detailed plans and programs, which is the CDP.
10:11The CDP is the Comprehensive Development Plan, but these are plans and programs that are aligned to the CLUP.
10:19After that comes the ELA, Executive Legislative Agenda, where the Executive and Legislative are supposed to choose from among the
10:29plans and programs set out already.
10:33Their priorities for the next three years during their term, they just choose from those plans and programs.
10:38The problem really is we don't have the CDP yet.
10:43We have the CLUP, but we don't have the CDP.
10:46So it's the Cebu City Development Council who is supposed to do the plans.
10:52That is the role.
10:54But, you know, in the CCDC, I am now the co-chair there.
10:57There's very little about development.
11:01Most of the discussion is political, but about the barangays, they're asking for funds because of the LDF, Local Development
11:09Fund.
11:10So I'd like the CCDC to move towards more planning, developmental issues, rather than those things.
11:20I mean, and that's what we're doing now.
11:23Last week, actually, I met with the Steering Committee.
11:27The Steering Committee are the heads of the different sectors, social, environmental, economic, institutional, and infrastructure.
11:37There are five development sectors.
11:39And the heads of that I met last, I think, last week.
11:44And we are now talking about the CDP.
11:48It's good that the 10-point agenda of the present administration through the ELA is now aligned.
11:56And that is where we will focus our CDP.
11:59So we will choose plans and programs now.
12:02It's like the reverse now.
12:04We will choose among the 10-point agenda where the CCD can focus their attention.
12:11Because this will point down later on to the funding, LDIP and the AIP, annual investment programs, which are, you
12:20know, the annual investment programs now are off the cuff.
12:23From the departments, they get the program.
12:26But it's not really aligned yet to the CLUP.
12:30So I guess we are moving there, but ever so slowly.
12:34And in my view, I was actually hoping that it could be faster, considering that we already got our confirmation
12:45through Tino.
12:47So Tino, move it from theoretical to actual.
12:52So there could have been more urgency as far as I am concerned.
12:58When I read the material that you also presented, that's last week, no?
13:03When was that?
13:04About the development planning.
13:06I think that was in USC.
13:09Development planning.
13:10Was it USC or the Rappler Forum?
13:12Oh, Rappler Forum.
13:13Yeah, but there was a forum that you presented the material.
13:16One of the aha moments for me, and this is my time also to confirm with you that for Cebu
13:26City land area, I cannot memorize the exact land area.
13:31291 square kilometers.
13:32But I'm able to capture the percentage.
13:3520% is urban.
13:38Exactly.
13:38And then 80% is upland and non-urban areas.
13:43And if I am to classify them deeper, it's 20 urban, 20 upland, 30 upland, and then 50 restricted.
13:59CCPL.
14:00Yes.
14:01How are we also approaching that in mind in terms of development?
14:10So that's where I'm coming from now on what you think should have been or should be approached with urgency,
14:18the protected areas, which is 50%.
14:21At least from what you're seeing.
14:23Well, actually, we call it the five development areas.
14:28We divided the whole land area of Cebu City into five.
14:32We have the uplands, which is composed of the green areas, the forest, which is under the sole jurisdiction of
14:41the Central Cebu Protected Landscape, CCPL.
14:45That's a law.
14:46So they have sole jurisdiction over CCPL.
14:48Is it still being adhered?
14:50Meaning that's really untouched as of this time?
14:55No.
14:55There have been that development.
14:58Because there are two zones in the CCPL.
15:01Okay.
15:01There is the strict protection zone where they are preserving the forest in these areas.
15:07But very minimal, no?
15:09I've seen that.
15:09Is that still untouched as of this time?
15:12Yeah.
15:13But little by little, it's being encroached upon, you know.
15:16But that's the strict protection zone.
15:18Supposedly, no?
15:19Yeah.
15:19And then we have the multiple-use zone.
15:22The multiple-use zone is like anything goes in that area.
15:25Because we also have mountain barangays, upland barangays in the CCPL.
15:33And, you know, barangays are developing a lot of things.
15:35Ecotourism.
15:36Yeah, for ecotourism.
15:38Basically for ecotourism.
15:41But that's important also.
15:42And agriculture.
15:44And then the next area is the uptown.
15:50The uptown.
15:51No, the peri-urban area.
15:52The peri-urban area is like a buffer zone between the CCPL and the urban area.
15:59This is like Busai or even lower than Busai?
16:03No, Pulang Bato.
16:05Ah, okay.
16:05And this Binalio, Pitos, that area.
16:10Ah, okay.
16:11Got it.
16:12Toong.
16:13Which is quite close already to the urban area.
16:16It's actually the expansion area of the urban area.
16:19They are now going there because of urbanization.
16:22That's a problem also.
16:24And then next to that is the uptown.
16:29The uptown is where the hills are.
16:31You can actually see the hills, colored light green.
16:36And this is where mostly the R1 subdivisions, the high-end subdivisions are located.
16:41And then we have the midtown.
16:44Midtown area is where the high-rises are.
16:47This is a very densified area.
16:50And then finally, we have the downtown area, which is the coastal area.
16:54And we have, for the five development areas, we have different controls and regulations.
17:02Okay?
17:02Because it's different.
17:04So, in the CCPL, for example, we're trying to control developments there now because the CCPL office actually told us
17:14that they need Cebu City to help them control those areas.
17:20So, now we have, in our new zoning ordinance, we have, let's say, we are proposing greenhouses instead of open
17:30farming in those areas.
17:31Because greenhouses are compact, high-production, high-value crops instead of open farming where they just, you know, cut and
17:40burn, they cut down the trees and they burn them, then they plant.
17:45So, we are trying to have those developments, you know, instead of cut and fill, like, you know, almost like
17:56quarrying in these areas.
17:57We try to control that.
17:59And then in the peri-urban area, this is where the expansion areas, the urban area, it's very, very difficult
18:08to control also because these are privately owned lots.
18:12But that is supposed to be agri-industrial, okay?
18:16So, we preserve that agri-industrial, but we can expand the city, the urban area in those peri-urban areas.
18:24So, in principle, and correct me if I'm wrong, no, because this is also education for me, correct me if
18:30I'm wrong, but expansion of the urban areas and even moving towards agri-industrial is only until peri-urban.
18:43Yeah.
18:43No?
18:44It's supposed to be.
18:44And that if we move higher, that's already, at the most, ecotourism.
18:50And then if we move even higher, that's already restricted.
18:54Yes.
18:54No?
18:54That's how it works.
18:55More or less, that's that, yeah.
18:56So, I hope also our viewers are able to capture that so that we don't have to be dependent on
19:02agencies and organizations to be more mindful.
19:07Why is this development already extended in this area?
19:12This is already, at the very, at the most, this is already just for ecotourism.
19:16This is not for high-rise anymore.
19:18Yeah.
19:18So, at least our viewers are educated on that.
19:22Mind you, you know, the peri-urban area and the CCPL is what is called the 80% of the
19:32whole land area.
19:33So, it's only 20% the urban area.
19:36And we are getting very congested.
19:39Agree.
19:40Because of urbanization and climate change because, you know, sea level rise and all that flooding.
19:46People are moving uphill.
19:47And slowly encroaching the restricted area already.
19:53Yes.
19:53Not the restricted, the buffer zone.
19:55The buffer zone.
19:57The maximum amount is just ecotourism, no?
20:00Yeah.
20:01But now, there's also non-ecotourism.
20:04There are real estate.
20:05In the peri-urban area.
20:07Development already.
20:08Now, this question should have been asked when you have nothing to do with the new administration.
20:17But I'm just saying, I operate on a start-finish.
20:22So, there's start deadline.
20:24So, I know you have nothing to do with this.
20:25But you might be wondering why I'm asking you about 2028.
20:29So, this could have been asked in 2025, no?
20:33And this has been asked on 2025.
20:35So, that means for the current set na lang, let's not call this administration term, it should end 2028, no?
20:432028, yeah.
20:43Pero, this is already like a year, more than a year na lang, no?
20:49From now.
20:50What do you think should be the three priorities na lang, no?
20:54We cannot boil the ocean anymore, no?
20:57But what do you think should be the three priorities na lang, before this term should end?
21:02At least something significant ba is done to move the CLUP forward?
21:07Yeah.
21:09To move the CLUP forward, the problems we're facing na.
21:12Including implementation.
21:14Mamili na lang ta, because we cannot implement the whole thing na man.
21:18So, in the remaining one and a half years na lang.
21:21Actually, regards to our problem,
21:23the very critical things we're facing.
21:26There was a survey done during the Mega Cebu Times, and I was there.
21:31Number one was really flooding,
21:34which is because there are lives at stake in flooding.
21:37And then there is traffic, of course.
21:41And finally, now we have garbage.
21:43Now, these are the three critical problems that we are facing now,
21:48and we're trying to solve.
21:49But in terms of planning, what do we have to do first?
21:55That is what we have been discussing also in the steering committee for the CCDC,
22:00because we'd like to move forward on the long-term plans.
22:04So, the long-term plan actually has short-term and medium-term activities.
22:09Okay, so if you talk about, you know…
22:12Let's start with flooding.
22:13Yeah, flooding.
22:14So, in the long-term plan, there is the green belt,
22:19which are the bigger watersheds in the area.
22:22So, you talk about super typhons like Tino and all that.
22:26We have to address that immediately through the green belt.
22:32But what is the short-term for that?
22:33What can we do now?
22:35So, in the discussion, the steering committee,
22:39we were talking about greening, planting, terracing,
22:43you know, uplands, and then going down to the lowlands.
22:47So, if we can protect the larger watersheds first,
22:51so that we can address the green belt,
22:54actually, that we have defined,
22:57that is for flooding.
22:59But, of course, there are also problems.
23:01We talk about traffic.
23:03Traffic, the long-term plan was dispersal.
23:06Yeah.
23:07Okay?
23:07Because the city, the urban core is congested,
23:13we need to move people north and south.
23:17And then we have identified, let's say,
23:19Danau City as a growth center.
23:21But this has to be supported by short- and medium-term activities.
23:25Like, what is the short-term?
23:27I'm glad that Danau is moving towards water.
23:31I know because we have been meeting them
23:34through the USCWRC, Water Resources Council.
23:38And they're now studying their water, their energy,
23:41even garbage.
23:42So, I hope Metro Cebu should consider this dispersed concentrations in both,
23:51so that people can move outward,
23:55instead of going towards our watersheds in the west.
23:58And what can we do now?
24:00There's a plan for MRT by the Japanese.
24:03They're now doing a feasibility study.
24:05But that will take a gestation period,
24:08probably about years, 10, 20 years.
24:10So, what can we do now?
24:12So, with the province,
24:14they're now doing a P2P,
24:17point-to-point buses.
24:19Because what we need is people to move out,
24:22but they have to be in the city for work
24:24in a shorter time,
24:26not wait two, three hours just to get here.
24:29So, a point-to-point bus system could probably help,
24:33which could be subsidized by the government.
24:36So, things like that.
24:37The other thing,
24:38I'll start with the development.
24:42Because I remember when you guessed that the first time,
24:45that was also, for me, a better appreciation
24:47why we need to move north and south.
24:50Because we only have very limited urban space.
24:54And the reason, if our viewers would remember,
24:56the reason why development is moving upward,
24:59because of the congestion within the urban areas.
25:03But if we move them north,
25:05or we move the development south,
25:07then we don't need to move up the mountains
25:09as much as we do today.
25:11Or densify.
25:12Or densify.
25:13Vertical development.
25:14Vertical development.
25:16So, now, last week,
25:19we guessed that the vice governor,
25:20and he spoke about the North Cebu Economic Zone.
25:24So, that's another way of moving the development north.
25:28And then, further promotion also of tourism in the south,
25:32so that there would be better livelihood,
25:34so people don't need to go to the urban center.
25:37So, at least there.
25:37And then, now, you mentioned about point-to-point buses.
25:41But do you think that's really,
25:45that will help,
25:46considering the congestion that also happens on the road?
25:50Meaning, I'm looking for an infrapod
25:53that would connect the north and the south
25:55until we will have the metro,
25:57or until we have the railway.
25:59Or which is which?
26:01Because both of them requires investment, no?
26:05And they also require longer implementation.
26:08But which is which, no?
26:09Una ho na to ang dala na lang sa,
26:11or una ho na to ang railway?
26:13At least in your view.
26:14Ang railway, dugay pa kayo.
26:16It takes long.
26:18But they are now studying.
26:19They have to study now.
26:20Correct.
26:21Because the gestation period is very long.
26:24But we talk about congestion.
26:26That P2P, the…
26:28Point-to-point.
26:29Yeah, the point-to-point buses.
26:31Actually, the strategy there is probably hoping
26:35that there will be a shift from a car-riding public to buses.
26:41If there is a shift, then they really reduce the number of cars on the road.
26:45Then it will be less traffic.
26:47There will be a shift if the P2P is efficient.
26:52Meaning, as I said, they can reach a city in 30, 45 minutes.
26:56They're there already.
26:57So, obviously, if it takes that much time only, instead of two hours, three hours on the road,
27:04then people will start transferring to P2P buses, especially if it's subsidized by government.
27:11Lower fares or whatever.
27:12So, people will shift.
27:14Leave their cars in those areas, in Danau or wherever, and then ride the buses.
27:20Yes, and they will have stations on each municipality.
27:25And these stations will be prepared for the future MRT.
27:29So, this will be already like going towards the long-term plan.
27:34While you were saying that, and correct me if I'm wrong,
27:37I would use the analogy of carpooling.
27:40Because some of the cars heading north or south, they just have one person inside.
27:46Or two persons inside.
27:48And then, they contribute to the congestion.
27:50But if it's pulled towards a bus, then there will be fewer cars.
27:55And more buses.
27:58And yes, I like it when you've mentioned that there should be stations.
28:03That's already like a preparation also for the future state, which is the railway.
28:08Now, let's go back to…
28:10Because now, it's clear to me what could be…
28:13It's still long-term, but at least it's a shorter term compared to the railway and the road.
28:21Infrastructure development that should be done going north and going south.
28:26But Cebu City, where are we with…
28:29Sorry to put you there.
28:30Where are we with the CBRT?
28:31Cebu City, sorry if I have to bring that up.
28:36You know that the World Bank has pulled out the CBRT, so funding is really a problem.
28:42But you know, part of the route is there already.
28:47And it's actually working very well.
28:50The buses, the modernized jeepneys are using the dedicated lanes.
28:55And it addressed the traffic along Osmania Boulevard.
28:59But it could have probably been expanded.
29:05But I was really thinking that the route should have been Cebu to Mandawi, along the north-south road.
29:14Instead of just going to Talamban.
29:16Because in Talamban, you know, there's also traffic there.
29:19But I was actually talking to DPWH, why don't we open a road from Pitos, the north of Cebu, to
29:28Consolacion.
29:29There are small roads there.
29:31But if you look at the map, there are now two main arterial roads.
29:36The coastal road, north and south road, and the Bantal, Banila-Talamban road.
29:41But the ones connecting these two are only, you know, and E.S. Fortuna, then M.L. Quezon, and then
29:51Cabellana, Tanang, Sa Sacred Heart.
29:54But no more.
29:55But the developments are going northward to Pitos, Bulangbaton.
30:01There is no connection from the two parallel roads, no?
30:06Yeah, arterial roads.
30:08So I was talking to DPWH, why don't we study a road to connect to Consolacion.
30:13Then it will reduce the traffic in Bantal.
30:16No, address that because it's incomplete if you look at the overall plan.
30:23And then probably another parallel road.
30:25There is this Hernan Cortes parallel to Bantal.
30:30But it's not being widened by DPWH.
30:34I don't know why it takes so long.
30:36But that is part of the CLUP plan directional.
30:42That's supposed to be the green loop.
30:44So the green loop.
30:45And it's supposed to be widened.
30:47Supposed to be widened because it is, you know, the main road that will connect the three cities and one
30:56municipality to Cordova for the urban core loop.
31:00So it's a green loop that is transport-oriented and pedestrian-dominated and with all the green initiative.
31:09That is supposed to concentrate or densify the urban core instead of going to the west.
31:16To the west.
31:16Now, before we move into garbage, let's start, let's start, last na lang ni siya on the traffic na side.
31:25Because you've mentioned that Hernan Cortes or AS Fortuna could have been widened because that's part of the plan.
31:34Sa Bantal ba, if I am to also remember, although mix ako makuhaan ang answer, based on the CBRT, that
31:43should also be widened.
31:45Yes.
31:46So, Morag Furby, if I am to simplify, although oversimplify, because it's not as simple as that,
31:53kanang, this could have been widened, no?
31:56By now.
31:57This too, no?
31:58Okay, notorious, incidentally, these two are also notorious for congestion.
32:02Exactly.
32:03Ah, okay.
32:04So.
32:05But widening is very expensive, especially now.
32:09But plan-wise, they're supposed to be widened.
32:13It should have been earlier, no?
32:14Correct.
32:14Now it's very expensive.
32:16So that DPWH is telling us that it's expensive to do that and all that.
32:22But the plan is, the plan.
32:25Anyway, sige, now na-answer na ni mo akong curious question with respect to the two, no?
32:30Nga it should have been widened by now.
32:33Now, let's move into garbage, okay?
32:36That's also part of the three priorities that you mentioned, at least before 2028, no?
32:42And it's at least significant lang, not finished, but at least significant actions, no?
32:46Do you think, I've read from the material, it was mentioned there, kanang private investments on waste to energy.
32:52Is that one area also that ang CLUP is seriously considering?
32:59Well, that should have been in a CDP, Comprehensive Development Plan.
33:03And I agree that, you know, WTE, it's in other countries.
33:07They're doing it already.
33:09The problem there is that because of a law, the Clean Air Act, I don't think, I don't know if
33:15it's, they allow WTE because it's really burning of garbage.
33:21But it's the new technology, they burn not only the garbage, but the gases.
33:27When they burn the gases, they eliminate the toxins.
33:33So, I really favor WTE if they can, you know, revise the law to make it legal, you know?
33:41There were attempts to do WTE, but it's not being supported.
33:46Correct.
33:47So, at least on a personal note, I'll not put you on the spot.
33:51So, actually, from this conversation, I'm already seeing kanang, not really short term, but a direction worth significantly pursuing.
34:03So, the point-to-point buses and the permunicipality stops and then supposedly the widening of the Bantal area and
34:15also the Hernan Cortez, which is supposed to be in the plan.
34:19And then possibly connecting the parallel artillery roads so that to deconstruct the three set, no?
34:29Where everybody is going just for them to cross towards the other road.
34:34And personally, I'm glad about when you mentioned waste to energy.
34:37And it's not because I'm just advocating for it, but we don't have a long-term solution as of this
34:44time, as viable as waste to energy.
34:49So, if we are then, Sige, because we're moving towards the closing part now of the conversation,
34:54kanang, what would be, you've mentioned, no, nga, CLUP, CDP, and then LL.
35:02What would be the waste-man that we in the private sector, even the viewers, could help entangle whatever is
35:12keeping all this free from being aligned?
35:16And then move this forward.
35:22For Shibu City, as I said, the CCDC is very important because their role is actually to plan.
35:29And now that we have the CLUP, we should do the CDP because that is the alignment to the CLUP.
35:38So, I'm glad that it's moving towards that direction with the steering committee.
35:44And I hope this will be supported not only by the government, the leadership now, but also by CSOs.
35:53Because civil society is very important for participation.
35:57In fact, during the Rappler Forum, I have been asking the CSOs to participate in the CCDC, get themselves accredited.
36:07Because we need the hands there and the voices to voice out these problems that are facing us.
36:16So, I hope that this is going there.
36:20So, then last, and I hope we will end the conversation more positively.
36:24So, if this will happen, so that means we already, it's going to move forward faster.
36:35There's better participation of the civil society.
36:40What can Cebu at least see until 2028?
36:48And it has nothing to do with the election, but I'm just looking at progress, Reguid, that's going to be
36:53done before we change.
36:55And elect other people.
36:58Okay, diharamag yun na, di ba? Magka problema sa continuity.
37:00But at least, nanalay nahita bo on before the terms would change, no?
37:06Whether ma-re-elect ba or not?
37:09Yeah, ang ako lang yun, empowerment of civil society at this point in time is very crucial.
37:15Because the issues will come out, and of course, that will be the discussion during the elections.
37:22So, but we can do something with the CCDC.
37:26That's why I aim really for, you know, these sectoral committees to work on the plan, the CDP.
37:35At this point in time, at least until 2028.
37:38Because now that the ELA is there already, I mean, it's like we jumped from CLUP to the ELA.
37:46We have to go back to CDP and try to fix it before the next elections.
37:51So, we can have clear plans and programs that will be long-term, short, medium, and long-term for different
38:00terms.
38:02Usually, the short-term is three years, medium is six years, and long-term is ten years.
38:07Yeah, so if you can do that.
38:10At least the finalization of the CDP.
38:13Yes.
38:15We'll do our best.
38:17Hopefully, our viewers also who are watching, and largely, they're part of the civil society, can also help moving all
38:26these forward.
38:26And that's one of the objectives also of this show, to get everyday Cebuanos to understand what we need to
38:32do moving forward.
38:33And then, what we can do within our capacity as everyday people or everyday Cebuanos to move all these forward.
38:42So, thank you for joining us today.
38:45And thank you also for giving more aha moments on how we can help us everyday Cebuanos in terms of
38:54the plans and the improvements that we need to move Cebu forward.
38:59Thank you for inviting me over.
39:01So, Typhoon Tino reminded us of our vulnerabilities, but flooding, traffic, congestion, and sustainable urban development remain challenges that require
39:13long-term solutions.
39:15As Cebu continues to grow, we hope the lessons we have learned translate into not just better planning, but better
39:24implementation and a more resilient city.
39:28So, I'm DJ Moise.
39:29Shout out to Coffee First for supporting conversations that matter.
39:32This is Beyond the Headlines.
39:34Let's look deeper and think better.
39:36Have a good afternoon.
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