CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City's Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) expressed reservations about granting an exemption from the parking requirements for the Cebu2World Development Inc., in relation to the ongoing development of the Barracks Area in Carbon Market.
This was outlined in a position paper submitted by the DEPW, signed by Engineer Lowell Corminal, and received on Jan. 15, 2025.
It was a response to a resolution passed by the Cebu City Council requesting Cebu2World Development Inc. to submit the complete development plans for the Carbon Market redevelopment, which was passed on Nov. 6, 2024.
In the same resolution, the DEPW noted that it was attached to a Cebu City Zoning Board Resolution concerning the Cebu Market Redevelopment Phase 1B (Barracks), Carbon Market, Ermita, Cebu City, and the Cebu Market Redevelopment Phase 1B (Main Public Market), Carbon Market, Ermita, Cebu City.
The resolution also sought approval for an exemption from the parking requirements for the project, allowing the proponent to utilize the temporary 57 parking slots and the off-site four-storey multi-level parking building.
The DEPW noted that these projects had already been approved by the council, particularly following the approval of the variance applications regarding land use and permitted uses.
In light of these developments, the DEPW highlighted, in its letter, that it did not receive any documents related to the construction of the projects, particularly concerning the Barracks or the Main Public Market.
“In reality, DEPW has no actual supervision or coordination of the projects,” an excerpt of the letter read.
The letter added that this is despite the mandate of the Office of the City Engineer, through its Construction Division as the implementing unit of the project, which is "to administer, coordinate, supervise, and control the construction, maintenance, improvement, and repair of roads, bridges, and other engineering and public works, projects of the local government unit concerned."
The DEPW also noted that during the implementation, there had been no request for a pre-conference meeting from their side, despite the fact that the Cebu Market Redevelopment Phase 1B is part of a public-private partnership (PPP).
The DEPW said that the broader Carbon Market redevelopment project is being implemented under a joint venture agreement (JVA) between the Cebu City Government and Megawide Construction Corporation, through its subsidiary Cebu2World Development Inc.
The DEPW said that they were not privy to the approved building plans and specifications and had no recollection of Cebu3World applying for working permits.
“To put things into proper perspective, the Office of the City Engineer expresses its reservations regarding the granting of exemption from the parking requirements,” the letter stated.
It added that allowing the proponent to utilize the temporary 57 parking slots and the off-site four-storey multi-level parking building would be a direct violation of the parking requirements under Presidential Decree 1096 (National Building Code).
The National Building Code stipulated that parking requirements based on the building’s type, use, and size for institutional and commercial buildings are clear violations of the Cebu City Revised Zoning Ordinance.
The DEPW explained that the Cebu City Zoning Ordinance complements national standards by adding specific provisions to address local conditions, especially the compliance with Floor Area Ratios (FAR).
“Parking requirements in Cebu City often consider FAR, where larger developments must provide more parking,” the DEPW said in its letter.
The DEPW emphasized its reservations regarding the granting of exemptions for parking requirements and pointed out that the project proponent must comply with the provisions of parking requirements under P.D. 1096 and the City’s Zoning Ordinance.
They also required that the Office of the Building Official (OBO) to implement the same once the proponent applies for building permits.
Previously, the development in the Carbon Market had been the subject of heated discussions, with vendors petitioning to revert the land-use classification from commercial to institutional.
Despite the opposition from the Carbon Market vendors, the Cebu City Council denied the revocation of the zoning classification of the public market and retained its commercial land-use status on Dec. 10, 2024.
Councilor Philip Zafra explained, at the time, that although they acknowledged the vendors’ concerns, the technicalities of the institutional land use for the area were intended for Freedom Park, not solely for the vendors.
He added that the reclassification to commercial was meant to “correct” the designation so that it aligned with the current use of the area, which is now being utilized as a market.
Zafra, however, stated that it is the council's responsibility to ensure that the vendors are protected and will not face a surge in their rental fees. — (FREEMAN)