Mayor: Monterrazas must comply city rules

CEBU, Philippines — Mayor Nestor Archival said Monterrazas de Cebu must continue complying with city ordinances despite the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) lifting the suspension order against the hillside project in Barangay Guadalupe.

Archival acknowledged DENR’s authority over environmental matters, saying the national agency remains the primary body overseeing the issue.

“DENR is the main department or agency looking into this. They already made that decision, so we will just follow it,” he said during a press conference yesterday.

The mayor, however, stressed that the city government has a separate responsibility to enforce local regulations.

“If there are ordinances that were not complied with by their organization or company, then we will inform them and impose disciplinary actions based on the law,” Archival said, adding that violations of city ordinances would not be ignored.

He did not say whether there are still existing violations linked to the project that need to be addressed.

On the issue of accountability, Archival addressed public perception that Monterrazas caused flooding in downstream communities.

“There is this notion that they caused the flooding below. But DENR is saying it is not the only reason. One major factor was the heavy rainfall, and there are still items that need to be worked on,” he said.

He also underscored the need for coordination between local and national agencies.

“If there are regulations or recommendations coming from our City Environment and Natural Resources Office and DENR, the city will make sure these are implemented. And if there are laws they failed to comply with, we will impose the proper penalties,” Archival said.

The case against Monterrazas stemmed from lapses flagged by both the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) and DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau in Central Visayas (EMB-7).

CCENRO cited inadequate drainage systems, clogged pipes, and failure to install required flood-mitigation structures as factors contributing to downstream flooding. EMB-7 later confirmed violations of the project’s Environmental Compliance Certificate in late 2025, prompting the suspension order.

The developer later constructed and upgraded detention ponds with a combined capacity of more than 52,000 cubic meters to regulate runoff and paid penalties under Presidential Decree 1586 before the suspension was lifted this month.

Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña has remained one of the project’s strongest critics. Earlier this month, he said the developer must prove the project will not cause flooding and warned he would push to cancel it if flooding recurs.

“If it floods again, I’ll work hard to cancel Monterrazas,” Osmeña said, adding that retention ponds should be completed before residential development proceeds. He compared the situation to “putting on the parachute before jumping out of the plane.”

Monterrazas de Cebu was suspended by EMB-7 in late 2025 after Typhoon Tino triggered massive flooding in Cebu City. The suspension was formally lifted this month after compliance measures were implemented, although civic groups and some council members remain cautious. — (FREEMAN)