Environmental violations force operation shutdown of Monterrazas residential project

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has identified violations in the development of the hillside luxury residential project Monterrazas de Cebu site, prompting the agency to order a halt to its operations.

During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Nov. 14, DENR-7 Executive Director Laudemir Salac said that a stoppage order had already been issued to Monterrazas de Cebu on Nov. 10, allowing only repair works for the retention pond.

“Stop po ngayon ang operations ng Monterrazas de Cebu. Meron na pong notice of violations at stoppage order. I can assure you po as of Wednesday (November 12), hindi na sila mag-o-operate unless i-repair po ‘yung nasirang detention pond,” Salac said.

The violations were found out as the DENR probed into the construction of the upland residence following the massive flooding during the onslaught of Typhoon Tino in Cebu.

11 of 700 trees left

According to DENR, one of the violations of the project was that only 11 out of 745 trees were left in the development site after being cut without necessary permits.

Salac said during the senate hearing that Monterrazas failed to report the cutting of 734 trees on their property.

“Mahigit pitong daang puno po ‘yung naputol na wala pong permit sa DENR),” the regional director said.

Meanwhile, in a teleradyo interview on Nov. 13, DENR-7 Assistant Regional Director for Management Services Eddie Llamedo also disclosed the same information, saying that the findings were a result of the joint investigation of multiple agencies on the project.

Llamedo said that the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) conducted a tree inventory on Oct. 22, which revealed that 745 trees were present prior to the start of construction of the upland residence.

“May ginawa na tree inventory ang CCENRO noong 2022 kung saan naitala ang 745 na mga puno. Sa initial interview na isinagawa noong Biyernes, lumalabas na 11 na lang ang natitirang puno mula sa orihinal na mahigit 700 puno,” Llamedo said.

He added that the project violated Section 77 of Presidential Decree 705: Revised Forestry Code of the Philippine 1975 and the Presidential Decree 1586 or the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System.

Insufficient retention ponds

DENR also said that the Monterrazas had planned to construct a centralized retention pond and 15 additional structures that were supposed to capture rainwater, however these were still inadequate.

“Ang analysis is itong 18,500 cubic meters or itong mga na-establish or to be established pa na mga retention pond that would somehow catch yung mga water para ma-eliminate or ma-prevent yung run-off going down. Ang nakita lang namin is only 12, retention pond, sapat ba ‘yun? parang hindi siya sapat. Dapat i-upgrade,” Llamedo said.

Salac also said that two of these retention ponds collapsed, and that traces of sediments were also found in the ponds’ waterway, implying that the ponds were insufficient, hence increasing the risk of flooding to the communities downstream.

The said violations can be grounds for criminal and administrative charges against the developers of the project.

Developers’ denial of responsibility

Mont Property Group, the company behind the development of the Monterrazas de Cebu, denies that their project caused the flooding in Cebu, but said that they are willing to cooperate with the DENR for an investigation.

In a statement released on Nov. 14, Mont stated that the allegations of them cutting more than 700 trees are false.

“We must, however, categorically refute premature pronouncements by the DENR regarding alleged tree cutting activities. The claim that Monterazzas de Cebu cut down more than 700 trees is grievously false, and we are confident that any evidence that may be presented to assert this narrative can easily be disproven,” they said.

The company also said that the misinformation making rounds on the internet about them causing the flooding across Cebu province is misguided as the “heavily flood-stricken” areas were kilometers away from their development site.

“We are likewise aware of the misinformation circulating online that incorrect-ly attributes the widespread flooding across Cebu to our development. While we acknowledge the localized flooding observed in our vicinity and continue to coordinate with the proper authorities, it is important to clarify a simple geographic reality,” they stated.

While Mont acknowledges the flooding within their area, Barangay Guadalupe where the Monterrazas is located, was also heavily affected by the flooding.