CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has lifted the cease-and-desist order against the Monterrazas de Cebu project, which had been blamed for flooding during Typhoon Tino last year.
The agency’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in Central Visayas said the project proponent, The Mont Property Group Inc., has implemented corrective measures required under its Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).
EMB Central Visayas Regional Director John Edward Ang said the suspension was lifted based on documented remedial works, compliance milestones, and settlement of penalties imposed under Presidential Decree 1586 for violations of ECC conditions.
Ang said the project proponent has constructed and improved 23 detention ponds with a combined capacity of about 52,468 cubic meters.
The EMB said the ponds were designed to contain and regulate surface runoff, reduce peak water flows, and help mitigate potential flooding impacts on downstream communities.
It added that on-site inspections verified pond excavation, embankment stabilization, inlet and outlet control structures, sediment traps, and site stabilization measures such as vegetative cover and erosion-control blankets.
“While the structural measures represent a meaningful step toward reducing flood risk, continued monitoring and maintenance are essential to ensure long-term effectiveness,” Ang said.
The bureau directed the developer to submit as-built drawings, operation and maintenance plans, and hydrologic monitoring data. It also required a regular maintenance schedule for sediment removal, vegetation management, and structural inspections.
“EMB Central Visayas recognizes the importance of timely remedial action to protect communities and the environment,” Ang said.
“The detention ponds and associated measures represent a meaningful step toward mitigating flood risk, but continued monitoring and maintenance are essential to ensure long-term effectiveness,” he added.
Among the next steps to be undertaken are monitoring the performance of detention ponds during rainfall events and reviewing hydrologic data submitted by the proponent.
The bureau will also verify as-built drawings, operation and maintenance plans, and monitoring reports to ensure the works comply with permit conditions and engineering specifications.
Should monitoring reveal deficiencies or insufficient capacity during extreme weather conditions, EMB said it would require additional mitigation measures and impose timelines for corrective action.
The bureau added it would coordinate with local government units and community representatives to share monitoring results and ensure downstream safety.
Ang emphasized that structural measures must be complemented by proper maintenance and community engagement to sustain long-term benefits.
Residents and stakeholders were encouraged to report drainage or flooding concerns to EMB Central Visayas for prompt assessment.
Osmeña disputes claims
Meanwhile, Cebu City Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña rejected the statement of Mont Property Group that its detention ponds are sufficient and were not the cause of flooding during Typhoon Tino in November 2025.
The Mont recently addressed allegations linking its flagship development, Monterrazas de Cebu in Barangay Guadalupe, to the flooding incident.
The Mont Property Group General Manager Camille Bondad said the volume of rainfall alone was enough to trigger widespread flooding. Osmeña, however, disputed the claim, saying the city had not experienced flooding of the same severity prior to Typhoon Tino.
“It was heavy rainfall, but to say it was unprecedented? That’s not accurate,” Osmeña said in an interview.
He also noted that lower-lying parts of the city did not experience landslides similar to those that occurred during the typhoon.
Osmeña warned that continued mountain cutting could cause floodwaters to exceed the capacity of the city’s drainage and detention systems.
“The detention ponds were simply not big enough. And if they continue cutting the mountains and it rains again, it will overflow again,” he said.
The Mont, however, said it previously had 18 detention ponds, one of which was damaged during the typhoon. The damaged pond has since been repaired, and the developer is adding five more after resuming operations following the lifting of the suspension order issued by the DENR-EMB on April 6, 2026.
Bondad assured the public that the project would proceed with greater caution.
Osmeña said that if commitments are not fulfilled, multiple legal cases could arise if mountain areas continue to be disturbed without proper oversight, especially if lives are lost and the project is found liable.
He clarified that he is not targeting or opposing the project, but stressed that environmental limits must be respected.
| Written by Preciosa L. Bacalso, The Freeman and Josiah Antonio, Philippine Star News Service/FPL
