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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DENR forms joint inspection team to probe Monterrazas de Cebu project after flooding, ECC backlash

DENR forms joint inspection team to probe Monterrazas de Cebu project after flooding, ECC backlash

Published Nov 7, 2025 08:17 pm
(MONTERRAZAS DE CEBU FACEBOOK PAGE)
(MONTERRAZAS DE CEBU FACEBOOK PAGE)
Following public outcry linking the Monterrazas de Cebu Project to recent flooding, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it has organized a multi-stakeholder inspection and investigation team to undertake a comprehensive review of the controversial hillside development.
In a statement on Friday, Nov. 7, the agency said it remains committed to protecting communities and enforcing environmental laws, emphasizing that the move aims to ensure a “thorough and impartial review” of the project.
“The DENR is committed to protect communities and uphold environmental laws,” the agency stated.
The announcement came after netizens criticized the DENR for issuing an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) to the Monterrazas de Cebu project, questioning why the development was allowed despite its location on a steep and hazard-prone slope. 
Social media users also pointed to the project as a possible factor behind flooding and soil movement in nearby barangays during recent heavy rains.
According to the DENR, the joint inspection team is composed of technical experts from DENR Region 7, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-7), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-7), Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Cebu, Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Cebu City, the Cebu City Government, and Barangay Guadalupe.
“To ensure thorough and impartial review of the Monterrazas de Cebu Project, the Department today convened a multistakeholder Joint Inspection, Investigation, and Assessment Team,” the DENR said.
It added that the team began its on-site investigation on Nov. 7. It was tasked to determine the following:
• The project’s compliance with the conditions of its ECC and other environmental regulations
• The effectiveness of its drainage, slope protection, and runoff management systems
• The stability of slopes and potential risks of landslides and flooding
• Possible alterations to natural landforms and proximity to timberland areas
• Evidence of erosion, siltation, or obstructions in nearby tributaries and waterways
Meantime, the environment department directed the project proponent to submit its Engineering, Geological, and Geohazard Assessment Report, which will be validated by the joint inspection team.
The DENR warned that if the investigation finds any violation of ECC conditions or environmental laws, it will not hesitate to enforce corrective measures such as "suspension, penalties, or other legal remedies as provided by law."
The department assured the public that it will release updates once the joint technical evaluation is completed.
“We remain steadfast in our mission to balance development with environmental protection and to ensure that every project operates in full compliance with the law,” the DENR said.
The Monterrazas de Cebu, a premier hillside development located in Barangay Guadalupe, has drawn scrutiny after residents and social media users linked its construction activities to flooding, soil erosion, and drainage problems in the city.
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