The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has filed criminal and administrative charges against the developer of Monterrazas de Cebu for alleged environmental violations linked to recent devastating floods in the province.

DENR Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs and Enforcement Norlito Eneran confirmed in a press conference on Wednesday that charges for violating Section 77 of Presidential Decree 705, the Revised Forestry Code, were filed against the corporation on December 3. The law penalizes the unlawful cutting, gathering, removing, or possessing of timber and other forest products, with penalties including two to four years’ imprisonment, fines ranging from P1,000 to P10,000, confiscation of products or equipment, and possible license cancellation.

“The company has its claim, but we have evidence that we have gathered. We have satellite imagery, and then, we have the inventory conducted in 2022,” Eneran said, referring to DENR data showing a drop from 745 trees documented in 2022 to just 11 remaining.

The Mont Property Group has denied the allegations, insisting that no trees were cut. “The claim that Monterrazas de Cebu cut down more than 700 trees is grievously false, and we are confident that any evidence that may be presented to assert this narrative can easily be disproven,” the company said. “Pursuant to our approved Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and Development Permit, only shrubs and secondary undergrowth were cleared to facilitate the necessary earthworks.”

The DENR also stated that Monterrazas violated 10 out of 33 conditions in its ECC, including the collapse of two retention ponds, which may have worsened flooding during Typhoon Tino, an event that claimed the lives of dozens of residents. The agency added that the development also breached the Clean Water Act and the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System, prompting a notice of violation and a stoppage order.

Investigators found that several of the 17 detention ponds designed to manage stormwater were either damaged or heavily silted, resulting in uncontrolled surface runoff that affected nearby downhill communities.

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