Monterrazas de Cebu denies cutting over 700 trees, breaks silence on link to Cebu flooding
The Mont Property Group, the developer of the controversial Monterrazas de Cebu, has broken its silence after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources announced a probe into the residential project, which came under fire after it was linked to flooding caused by Typhoon Tino.
On Nov. 13, DENR Region 7 Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services Eddie Llamedo said that Monterrazas de Cebu was flagged for multiple environmental violations.
"We discovered that of the 745 trees listed in the 2022 inventory, only 11 remained. This constitutes a clear violation of Section 77 of the Forestry Code, and we are now building a case against the developer," he told Radyo Pilipinas.
Section 77 of the Forestry Code prohibits people from cutting, gathering, collecting, or removing timber or other forest products without any authority.
Llamedo added that 10 out of the 33 conditions set under its Environmental Compliance Certificate were violated, resulting in a stoppage order on Nov. 10.
Monterrazas is now at risk of charges under the Forestry Code, the Philippine EIS System (PD 1586), and the Clean Water Act (RA 9275).
Monterrazas denies allegations
In a Nov. 14 statement, Mont Property Group denied cutting down more than 700 trees and called this claim "grievously false."
"Pursuant to our approved Environmental Compliance Certificate and Development Permit, only shrubs and secondary undergrowth were cleared to facilitate the necessary earthworks," it said.
The developer also claimed that the Environmental Impact Statement it submitted to the Environmental Management Bureau stated 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."
Additionally, it acknowledged the flak it received online after the recent flooding in Cebu brought by Typhoon Tino, which has killed nearly 200 people.
"We are likewise aware of the misinformation circulating online that incorrectly attributes the widespread flooding in Cebu to our development," it 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. These areas fall under completely different drainage basins and natural waterways."
For its part, DENR inspectors found that 17 detention ponds in the project area were heavily silted, causing uncontained surface runoffs.
In its statement, Mont Property Group claimed that it has installed a system with a capacity of 40,413 cubic meters.
The company continued to say that it is "deeply mindful" of the hardships brought about by Typhoon Tino.
The Monterrazas project was revealed by Pinoy Big Brother alum and engineer Slater Young in 2023, which had already received backlash at the time.
Young has remained silent on the matter.
Monterrazas is a 200-hectare residential condominium described as inspired by the Banaue Rice Terraces.