DENR lifts halt order on Monterrazas project in Cebu after compliance

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) Region 7 has officially lifted the “cessation of operations order” against the Monterrazas development project in Cebu.

In a statement on Friday, April 17, EMB-7 Regional Director John Edward Ang said the order was lifted after the developer complied with remedial measures required under its Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and settled penalties for previous violations of Presidential Decree No. 1586.

“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. 

According to Ang, the project developer has built and upgraded 23 detention ponds, with a total storage capacity of about 52,468 cubic meters.

The EMB said these ponds are designed to manage surface runoff, reduce peak flow rates and minimize flooding risks for downstream communities.

Field inspections confirmed the completion of pond excavation, embankment stabilization and the installation of inlet and outlet controls.

Inspectors also verified the presence of sediment traps and site stabilization measures, including erosion-control blankets and vegetative growth.

Despite the lifting of the halt order, EMB-7 has instructed the developer to submit as-built drawings, detailed operation and maintenance plans and regular hydrologic monitoring data.

“EMB Region 7 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. 

The DENR suspended work on the luxury residential development in upland Barangay Guadalupe in November 2025 after discovering three construction-related violations.

The project, which features a design inspired by rice terraces, was cited for a drastic reduction in vegetation. The agency noted that while more than 700 trees were recorded on the site in 2022, only 11 remained after the issuance of a tree-cutting permit.

Two of the development’s detention ponds failed, a collapse that officials linked to increased flooding in nearby areas during Typhoon Tino in late October 2025.