Hold order vs. Monterrazas development still in effect

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said the Cease and Desist Order against the development of Monterrazas de Cebu in the upland area shall remain effective.

Rama said it will remain until the developer, Genvi Development Corp., complies with the recommendations to solve the flooding in several sitios of barangays Guadalupe and Tisa caused by the excess water coming from the mountains especially during heavy rains.

The mayor was apparently irked after a representative of Genvi Development Corp. was quoted saying that the issuance of the Cease and Desist Order by the mayor was improper because Monterrazas is not the cause of the flooding.

“Are they going to challenge our observation?” Rama said.

Rama said that he was there himself during the ocular inspection and he witnessed how the water coming from Monterrazas surged to the lowlands and caused flashfloods in lowland sitios.

The recent flooding last month caused major damage to property. Barangays Guadalupe and Tisa were heavily affected and both placed several sitios under a state of calamity.

Rama also frowned at the claim of the developer that there was no process observed.

Lawyer Dindo Perez, legal counsel of Genvi Development Corp. was quoted in a newspaper and radio reports saying “with all due respect to the city government, the issuance of the cease and desist order is unnecessary and improper. Due process could have been observed.”

But Rama said that in situations like when the city government is trying to protect the constituents from imminent danger, quick decision-making is demanded.

Genvi Development Corp. claims that Monterrazas did not cause the flooding in Guadalupe and Tisa, rather, the detention ponds they constructed prevented the flooding. 

Genvi Development Corp. has 15 detention ponds with a capacity of 25,000 cubic meters.   - (THE FREEMAN)