DENR temporarily stops the building of Monterrazas by Slater Young and his team.
SLATER YOUNG MONTERRAZAS PROJECT – Monterrazas de Cebu construction is temporarily stopped by the DENR following the violations.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) vowed to investigate the Monterrazas project of Slater Young. This is after the project was criticized online again after two strong typhoons triggered severe flooding in the nearby towns where this high-end project is being constructed.
Is the Monterrazas project truly sustainable? This is the question of many after many people claimed that lives were lost due to the flooding caused by the Monterrazas construction along the slopes of the mountain.
According to the investigation, DENR Region 7 Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services Eddie Llamedo revealed that 734 trees were cut out in the 140-hectare property area. Only 11 were accounted for. This violated Section 77 of Presidential Decree 705, or the Forestry Code of the Philippines.
Second, out of the 33 conditions stated in the amended ECC granted to the developers, 10 were violated. This prompted the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) to issue a notice of violation and a stoppage order.
Non-compliance with the ECC may result in penalties under Presidential Decree 1586, or the Environmental Impact Statement System, which includes a fine of ₱50,000 for every violation.
There was also a violation in the lack of discharge permits required under the Clean Water Act.
Why did the DENR stop a Cebu City hillside development? The operations were halted due to extensive environmental violations. DENR Region VII Executive Director Laudermir Salac said, “Stop po ngayon ang operation ng Monterrazas sa Cebu. Meron na pong notice of violation at stoppage order.”
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