The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) identified multiple environmental violations in the Monterrazas de Cebu project, raising concerns over its impact on local ecosystems, including unrecorded tree cutting and failure to secure required water discharge permits.
In an interview on Thursday, Nov. 13. DENR Central Visayas reported three major findings from its recent investigation of the Monterrazas de Cebu real estate development, which was launched after Typhoon “Tino” caused severe flooding in several provinces.
The developers failed to report the cutting of 734 trees within the 140-hectare Monterrazas de Cebu property in Guadalupe, Cebu City, with only 11 trees officially accounted for, DENR Region 7 Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services Eddie Llamedo told Radyo Pilipinas.
Discrepancy came to light following a DENR tree inventory in October 2022, which recorded 745 trees from the property as part of its Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) application.
“They found out that out of 745, only 11 were accounted for, meaning there was a violation of Section 77 of Presidential Decree 705, or the Forestry Code of the Philippines,” Llamedo said.
According to Llamedo, the Monterrazas’ developers were aware of the requirements, as the DENR provided them back in November 2022 with a checklist outlining proper tree-cutting and inventory procedures.
He noted that under Section 77, ‘cutting, gathering, or collecting forest products’ without the legally required permits constitutes a criminal offense under existing Philippine environmental laws and regulations.
Llamedo said that of the 33 conditions outlined in the amended ECC granted to the developers, 10 have been violated. Since the investigation began last week, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) has issued a notice of violation and a stoppage order to the Monterrazas de Cebu developers.
Failure to comply with the ECC could result in penalties under Presidential Decree 1586, or the Environmental Impact Statement System, including fines of P50,000 for each violation
According to Llamedo, one of the violations involved the absence of discharge permits required under the Clean Water Act. These permits serve as DENR’s legal authorization to release wastewater or effluents into water bodies, specifying the allowable volume and quality of discharge to protect public health and the environment.
Llamedo said flooding linked to the Monterrazas project was confirmed after inspectors found 17 detention ponds in the area heavily silted, with uncontained surface runoff flowing into nearby waterways. Various ponds were further damaged, causing runoff to spill downslope and affect lower-lying communities.
He then explained that when a detention pond is filled with silt, it loses its ability to store water effectively.
Llamedo clarified, however, that the five areas most affected by the floods were located approximately 5.4 to 11 kilometers from the Monterrazas site, suggesting that distance possibly influenced the extent of the impact.
In an interview on Thursday, Nov. 13. DENR Central Visayas reported three major findings from its recent investigation of the Monterrazas de Cebu real estate development, which was launched after Typhoon “Tino” caused severe flooding in several provinces.
The developers failed to report the cutting of 734 trees within the 140-hectare Monterrazas de Cebu property in Guadalupe, Cebu City, with only 11 trees officially accounted for, DENR Region 7 Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services Eddie Llamedo told Radyo Pilipinas.
Discrepancy came to light following a DENR tree inventory in October 2022, which recorded 745 trees from the property as part of its Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) application.
“They found out that out of 745, only 11 were accounted for, meaning there was a violation of Section 77 of Presidential Decree 705, or the Forestry Code of the Philippines,” Llamedo said.
According to Llamedo, the Monterrazas’ developers were aware of the requirements, as the DENR provided them back in November 2022 with a checklist outlining proper tree-cutting and inventory procedures.
He noted that under Section 77, ‘cutting, gathering, or collecting forest products’ without the legally required permits constitutes a criminal offense under existing Philippine environmental laws and regulations.
Llamedo said that of the 33 conditions outlined in the amended ECC granted to the developers, 10 have been violated. Since the investigation began last week, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) has issued a notice of violation and a stoppage order to the Monterrazas de Cebu developers.
Failure to comply with the ECC could result in penalties under Presidential Decree 1586, or the Environmental Impact Statement System, including fines of P50,000 for each violation
According to Llamedo, one of the violations involved the absence of discharge permits required under the Clean Water Act. These permits serve as DENR’s legal authorization to release wastewater or effluents into water bodies, specifying the allowable volume and quality of discharge to protect public health and the environment.
Llamedo said flooding linked to the Monterrazas project was confirmed after inspectors found 17 detention ponds in the area heavily silted, with uncontained surface runoff flowing into nearby waterways. Various ponds were further damaged, causing runoff to spill downslope and affect lower-lying communities.
He then explained that when a detention pond is filled with silt, it loses its ability to store water effectively.
Llamedo clarified, however, that the five areas most affected by the floods were located approximately 5.4 to 11 kilometers from the Monterrazas site, suggesting that distance possibly influenced the extent of the impact.
J
Written by Jasmine Danica Batoctoy, Insight PH
Jasmine Danica Batoctoy, Insight PH is a dedicated campus journalist and contributor. Their insightful writing sparks meaningful conversations and keeps the community informed.
