The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has ordered stoppage to Monterrazas de Cebu, an upscale rice-terraces-inspired residential project on upland Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City. 

In the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Friday, November 14, 2025, DENR 7 Executive Director Laudemir Salac said that a stoppage order has been issued to Monterrazas de Cebu.

“As of Wednesday [November 12, 2025], hindi na po sila nag-o-operate,” Salac said. 

The DENR said one of the violations that it identified is that out of over 700 trees in 2022, only 11 remain after a tree-cutting permit was obtained for the project, according to a GMA News Online report on November 13, 2025. 

The project, the agency said, 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.

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

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 to the amount that could fill seven Olympic swimming pools.

“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,” said Eddie Llamedo, DENR Region 7 assistant director.

The DENR also found that Monterrazas had violated ten out of 33 Environmental Compliance Certificates or ECCs.

This could subject the people behind the residential project to administrative and criminal charges.

GMA Integrated News is seeking comment from the involved parties.

Meanwhile, the DENR is also investigating other projects since many areas in Cebu were flooded.

(via Nimfa Ravelo/dzBB, GMA Integrated News)