Monterrazas de Cebu developer breaks silence, denies cutting trees

Mont Property Group, the developer of the upscale hillside residential development Monterrazas de Cebu in Cebu City, has aired its side over the controversy surrounding its project, which was blamed for aggravated flooding following the onslaught of Typhoon Tino.

“Monterrazas de Cebu welcomes all impartial investigations by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). We are committed to [working] with the agency to ensure the highest standards of environmental integrity and community safety across Cebu's hillside developments,” Mont Property Group said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.

On November 7, the DENR announced it had launched a probe into the environmental laws compliance of the Monterrazas de Cebu development.

This week, the DENR disclosed that one violation it identified is that, of the more than 700 trees present in 2022, only 11 remain after a tree-cutting permit was obtained for the project.

The project, the agency said, violated Section 77 of Presidential Decree 705 (Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines 1975) and Presidential Decree 1586, or the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System.

In its statement, Mont Property Group refuted what it described as “premature pronouncements” by the DENR concerning alleged tree-cutting activities. 

“The claim that Monterrazas 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,” the property developer said.

GMA News Online reached out to the DENR for comment. The story will be updated once a response has been received.

“Pursuant to our approved Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and Development Permit, only shrubs and secondary undergrowth were cleared to facilitate the necessary earthworks,” it added.

The company explained that the duly submitted Environmental Impact Statement (ES) to the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB)-DENR Region VII “even reflected that the site was predominantly covered by grass, shrubs, and small plants, with minimal to no topsoil, and the area could not support agricultural activity and was characterized mainly by non-woody vegetation.”

The mountainside residential project, designed by celebrity engineer Slater Young, is once again facing public backlash amid claims that the development exacerbated flooding in Cebu City during the heavy rains brought by Typhoon Tino.

According to Ivan Mayrina’s Thursday report on “24 Oras,” Young said, in his YouTube account, that The Rise at Monterrazas—a residential project that was started in 2024—is sustainable and has an irrigation system, which resembles the one used by farmers, that could collect rainwater into a tank. He added that the project also has an irrigation system.

However, amid the onslaught of Typhoon Tino, a netizen posted a video, which had become viral, showing a surge of floodwater.

‘Geographic reality’

Mont Property Group also addressed circulating claims that the hillside development aggravated flooding in Cebu City.

“We are likewise aware of the misinformation circulating online that incorrectly 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,” the property said.

“Monterrazas de Cebu is located in Barangay Guadalupe, which is several kilometers away from the heavily flood-stricken areas in Liloan, Mandaue, and Talisay, which unfortunately suffered the most severe impacts,” it said.

Mont Property Group further said that the flood-stricken areas fall under completely different drainage basins and natural waterways.

“To put this in context, it would be akin to suggesting that a development in Tagaytay City caused flooding in Makati City. The locations, watersheds, and flow paths simply do not intersect,” the company said.

Regulatory compliance

The property developer also addressed issues concerning regulatory compliance, saying its track record “demonstrates a commitment to exceeding the required mandates.”

“For instance, in flood mitigation, the DENR required a total detention pond capacity of 26,701 cubic meters for the property,” it said.

“Monterazzas proactively installed a system with a capacity of 40,413 cubic meters, representing a 51% increase over the required standard,” it added.

The DENR, however, said Monterrazas also failed to acquire a discharge permit in accordance with the provisions of the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004.

The agency said the planned centralized retention pond and 15 additional structures meant to capture rainwater are still considered inadequate.

Once completed, the pond was to store water equal to the amount that could fill seven Olympic swimming pools, according to the DENR.

Mont Property Group said Monterrazas de Cebu stands by the integrity of its work, its processes, and its long-term partnership with both the government and the communities. 

“We remain deeply mindful of the hardships caused by Typhoon Tino and extend our sincere concern to the families working to recover from its impacts,” it said.

“As part of our commitment to community partnership, we are ready to collaborate with local authorities and residents on efforts that can further strengthen safety and resilience in our surrounding areas,” it added. —VBL/KG, GMA Integrated News