By Marita Moaje | Philippine News Agency
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has uncovered massive tree cutting, including multiple environmental violations, at the Monterrazas de Cebu hillside development after a full investigation was launched amid reports of flooding and soil movement in the area triggered by Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi).
In a radio interview Thursday, Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services Eddie Llanedo said the investigation team found that more than 700 trees were cut within the 140-hectare property—a serious breach of forestry and environmental laws.
“During the Oct. 2022 tree inventory, there were 745 trees within the 140-hectare property of Monterraza. Right now, we found out that out of 745, only 11 were accounted for, so meaning there was a violation of section 77 of Presidential Decree 705 or the Forestry Code of the Philippines,” Llanedo said.
He said that it was Monterraza that requested the tree inventory as part of their application for an amended environmental compliance certificate (ECC).
Aside from the Forestry Code, LLanedo said, the Monterrazas development also violated the Clean Water Act and the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System, based on the joint inspection conducted on Nov. 6 and 7.
The DENR said the developer also failed to comply with 10 out of the 33 conditions set under its Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).
“Because of that, the Environmental Management Bureau issued a notice of violation and a stoppage order on Nov. 10,” he said.
Investigators also found that several of the 17 detention ponds designed to manage stormwater runoff were either damaged or heavily silted, leading to uncontrolled surface runoff that worsened flooding in nearby communities downhill.
“These conditions contributed to the flooding experienced downslope,” Llanedo said.
Llanedo noted that aside from the notice of violation and stoppage order issued against the developer, each ECC violation carries a penalty of a P50,000 administrative fine, with possible additional penalties under the Forestry Code and the Clean Water Act.
“Penalty, administrative penalty, and possible, aside from admin, may mga cases din na ipa-file against the developer or against Monterrazas,” he said.
Llanedo said the DENR is also looking into other development projects for possible violations of environmental laws.
