Special Feature: DENR-EMB7 confirms lifting cease-and-desist order against Monterraza

CEBU CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources- Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) in Region 7confirmed on April 17, its lifting of the cessation of operations order (CDO) against the Monterrazas de Cebu development after the project proponent, The Mont Property Group, Inc., implemented corrective measures required under its Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

 EMB- 7Regional Director Atty. John Edward Ang said the stoppage was lifted on the basis of documented remedial works, compliance milestones and settlement of penalties imposed under PD 1586, for violation of ECC Conditions.  Ang explained that the project proponent has constructed and enhanced 23 detention ponds with a combined capacity of approximately 52,468 cubic meters.

The ponds, EMB said, are engineered to contain and regulate surface runoff, attenuate peak flows, and help mitigate potential flooding impacts on downstream communities.  According to Ang, 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.  

Key corrective actions implemented by Monterraza included the construction and enhancement of 23 detention ponds strategically located across the development site to intercept surface run off. It also established approximately 52,468 cubic meters of detention capacity to hold rain run-off and prevent flooding in downstream areas. 

Monterraza also installed inlet/outlet control structures and sediment traps to improve water quality and prolong the operational life of the detention system, and site stabilization measures as vegetative cover and erosion control blankets to minimize soil loss.  “While the structural measures represent a meaningful step toward reducing flood risk, continued monitoring and maintenance are essential to ensure long-term effectiveness.

EMB Region 7recognizes the importance of timely remedial action to protect communities and the environment.  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,” Ang stated. 

EMB-7 has instructed Monterrazas to submit as-built drawings, operation and maintenance plans, and hydrologic monitoring data, and has required a regular maintenance schedule for sediment removal, vegetation management, and structural inspections. 

Ang bared that EMB-7 outlined its next steps to ensure compliance and performance with its ongoing monitoring of the detention ponds’ performance during rainfall events and review hydrologic data submitted by the proponent.   Should monitoring reveal deficiencies or insufficient capacity under extreme conditions, EMB will require additional mitigation measures and set timelines for corrective action.  

Monterraza development details and controversial issues 

Monterrazas de Cebu or Monterraza is an upscale rice-terraces-inspired residential development on upland Barangay Guadalupe developed by Genvi Development Corporation/Mont Property Group with Chief Strategic Officer Slater Young as its project ambassador.  

Based on EMB’s report obtained by this writer, construction was suspended since November 2025 due to DENR stoppage order 2752, when the project came under fire after Typhoon Tino in late 2025 caused massive flooding in communities at the base of the mountain, especially along Banawa Creek.  

Residents and officials blamed increased surface runoff from the hillside development due to earth-moving and vegetation removal.  On November 7, 2025, DENR-EMB7 launched its probe with technical experts to assess ECC compliance, slope stability, and drainage systems, and by November 12, 2025, EMB7 issued the stoppage order due certain violations. 

According to EMB’s findings, Monterraza was guilty of cutting trees in 2022 without any tree-cutting permit from the government and that out of over 700 trees, only 11 remained uncut.  The Bureau also said that the developer failed 10 out of 33 Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) conditions. 

Further reports indicated that Monterraza did not have discharge permit, a violation under the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 and it has inadequate retention ponds with only 12 built/to be built versus planned 15+.DENR said 18,500 cubic meters capacity are not enough for water retention.

EMB-7 said Monterraza breached several laws such as PD-705 Revised Forestry Code, PD-1586 Environmental Impact Statement System. In December 2025, EMB-7 filed criminal complaints against Monterraza for breaking forestry laws. DENR-EMB7 “will not hesitate to enforce corrective actions, including suspension, penalties, or other legal remedies,” it said. 

Cebu City probe and findings 

The Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) headed by Engr. Editha Peros said her office did not receive any application for a tree-cutting permit from Monterraza, and on March 3, 2026, Peros asked Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival to stop construction because the developer lacks earth-moving and tree-cutting permits. 

Office of the Building Official (OBO)-Cebu City Chief, Architect Florante Catalan bared that the developer secured all OBO permits, adding that environmental issues are not within its job and referred the matter to CCENTRO. 

On November 10, 2025, Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival ordered a City-led inspection separate from the DENR probe.  The City requested for the DENR-EMB findings for clarification, and found that on August 26, 2025, they met with Slater Young to discuss flood control CSR projects--including detention ponds, drainage improvements, Quijada Drive upgrades. The meeting now drew scrutiny. 

The Cebu City Council on Feb 3, 2026 approved a request from OBO to issue cease-and-desist order (CDO) due to lacking permits and on March 10, 2026, the City Council approved tighter monitoring after the executive session. “They have the authority to issue the CDO because they failed to comply with the submission of these permits,” said City Councilor Sisinio  Andales while Councilor Joel Garganera explained the runoff issue that it “becomes like the flush of a toilet—it goes straight into the drainage system.”

Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña also said that development is fine but proper planning is essential to prevent water from rushing into the lowland neighborhoods. 

Guadalupe Barangay Captain Apol Ross Enriquez demanded a full-scale technical review of Monterraza’s drainage systems and water retention ponds which findings revealed that an unusually high surface run off from the project may have contributed to flooding, soil saturation, and slope instability downstream. 

Invoking the Local Gov’t Code to protect community safety, the Barangay Council led by Enriquez asked for community dialogue with developer presenting all permits, engineering plans, flood mitigation measures and the council passed the motion en masse for the CDO against Monterraza on November 5, 2025. 

Developer side and netizens reactions 

Developer Genvi/Mont Property Group denied cutting 700 trees without permits and told inspectors on January 12, 2026 that construction was already suspended since November 2025 and current work only for repairing retention ponds.  

In an executive session on March 10, 2026, the developer also denied violating the stop work order. Said earth-moving was in a different part of property not covered by CDO, and the site is shared with another developer, and it claimed that ponds are 80 percent larger than what the law requires.  Slater Young, in his several interviews in2023, allayed concerns and assured the government that the project is designed with sustainability. 

Meanwhile, ordinary people and netizens' reactions towards the Monterraza project were triggered after Typhoon Tino flash floods that allegedly blamed the Monterraza development causing the floods which went viral. 

Residents near the project were worried about their safety because removing vegetation makes rainwater flow down much faster, increasing flood and landslide risks. Environmental advocates on the other hand called for greater transparency and accountability in approving and monitoring of large-scale hillside developments.  Homes and businesses affected claimed that Banawa Creek area downstream reported flooding, soil saturation, slope instability. 

DENR-EMB7 final technical evaluation report and its findings on drainage, slope stability, retention ponds, and ECC compliance will be submitted to the Cebu City Gov’t and other regulatory agencies for references and continuous monitoring of the Monterrazas de Cebu.