Monterrazas blasts DENR over ‘violations’

MANILA, Philippines — Despite having been flagged with several violations, the company behind the controversial Monterrazas de Cebu residential project denied being behind the tragic flooding that hit Cebu City and neighboring areas during the onslaught of Typhoon Tino that claimed more than a hundred lives in the province.

Recently, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)’s Region 7 office reported several violations in its amended environmental compliance certificate (ECC) that included cutting of over 700 trees in its project site, inefficiency of its water detention ponds that led to spillover of excess water and runoff in low-lying areas.

In a two-page statement posted on its Instagram account @montvaluedpartners, Monterrazas de Cebu’s developer Mont Property Group said it “categorically refute(s) premature pronouncements by the DENR regarding 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,” said the company in the statement also published by a certain @patsy.ellaris who introduced herself as “Broker Manager | The Month Property Group.”

It also claimed “only shrubs and secondary undergrowth were cleared to facilitate the necessary earthworks” based on its ECC.

It also cited a report by DENR Region 7’s Environmental Management Bureau saying “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.”

Mont Property Group also objected to what it called “misinformation circulating online” blaming it for the massive flooding, despite findings by the DENR that “internal site issues” could have caused water to overflow and flood parts of the towns of Liloan, Consolacion and Talisay City.

“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,” it said.

It also claimed it built a detention pond that has a capacity of 40,413 cubic meters, which is more than the DENR’s requirement of 26,701 cubic meters.

Despite these assertions, Monterrazas de Cebu said it “welcomes all impartial investigations by the (DENR).”

The DENR issued a notice of violation and a stoppage order on Nov. 10, according to earlier reports.

It noted the developer could face charges for violating the Forestry Code (PD 705), the Philippine EIS System (PD 1586) and the Clean Water Act (RA 9275) if proven.

Monterrazas de Cebu, with an area of 200 hectares, has been drawing flak for its construction that supposedly altered the slope of a mountain that increased the risk of flooding and landslides.

While he prided the project’s efforts to apply sustainability, project partner and former TV personality Slater Young has been silent amid the controversy surrounding it.