Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has ordered the immediate mobilization of city enforcement and engineering teams to crack down on illegal structures and fast-track reforestation efforts inside the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL).
The directive came during a joint site visit and coordination meeting held the other day at the CCPL Cantipla office, where city officials, representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-CCPL, and the KEEP Forest Foundation mapped out urgent protection measures for the watershed.
The visit focused on strengthening riparian zone protection, accelerating forest rehabilitation, and initiating legal action against unauthorized developments within the protected area. A riparian zone is the stretch of land that borders rivers, streams, and other bodies of water that plays a vital role in maintaining the health of both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
Technical teams from the city and DENR conducted on-site inspections of priority zones and received a briefing on ongoing restoration activities.
A roundtable discussion followed according to the city’s PIO, aligning the roles and schedules of partner agencies and community stakeholders.
KEEP Forest Foundation, a local conservation group active in Central Cebu, presented long-term volunteer maintenance plans and proposals for sustained site care that integrates reforestation, environmental law enforcement, and community education to foster collective stewardship and sustainable development.
A central technical priority identified during the meeting was the issuance of notices of violation and expedited inspections of alleged illegal structures.
Archival directed city teams to coordinate closely with DENR-CCPL to ensure swift legal and administrative action, while upholding due process.
Officials emphasized that enforcement will be paired with community-based restoration and livelihood support to ensure both protection and inclusive stewardship of the watershed.
The collaboration signals a renewed commitment to safeguarding Central Cebu’s ecological integrity through coordinated governance, civic participation, and science-based restoration.
City going after illegal structures in watersheds.