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DENR suspends Santa Fe, Cebu project over height violation

Philippines | National

DENR suspends Santa Fe, Cebu project over height violation

By Jel Santos

(MB FILE PHOTO)

(MB FILE PHOTO)

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has suspended the Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) of a property developer in Santa Fe, Cebu after its project was found to exceed the allowed building height set by environmental regulations.

In a statement, the DENR disclosed that the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) suspended on August 15 the ECC of Fifth Avenue Property Development Corp. for “The Stria Santa Fe Project” in Poblacion, citing violations of Presidential Decree 1586 and its implementing rules.

The suspension came after DENR-Region 7 and EMB inspectors found that the building had already reached four floors, breaching the 10-meter height limit equivalent to three floors mandated under Section 5.1.3 of DAO 2009-09.

The rule requires low-rise structures to preserve the natural landscape profile in the area.

“Any development that goes beyond the allowable limits not only breaches regulatory requirements but also risks causing damage to the environment,” DENR Regional Executive Director Paquito Melicor Jr. said.

Records showed the EMB earlier fined the developer P270,000 for the violation, while DENR Region 7, through the Cebu City Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), issued three notices of violation on July 31, September 17, and December 18, 2024.

CENRO Cebu City later ordered the stoppage of all construction activities on May 14, 2025 after the developer failed to act on the notices.

With the fine still unpaid, the agency said EMB Region 7 suspended ECC No. ECC-OL-R07-2022-0310 dated October 18, 2022, as amended by ECC-OL-R07-2022-0417 dated Dec. 15, 2022.

“The agency assures the public that it remains committed to enforcing environmental laws and ensuring that all development activities comply with established guidelines to protect Cebu’s natural resources.”

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