‘Moterrazas project should not proceed without adequate flood mitigation systems’

Local

CEBU City Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña said his position on the Monterrazas de Cebu project goes beyond calls for a cease-and-desist order.

He stressed that major works should not proceed unless the developer can first prove that its flood mitigation systems are adequate.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, April 10, Osmeña raised concern over ongoing road developments within the project, saying these function as collection channels that accelerate rainwater flow.

“They should stop further road developments because the road acts as the collection system for rainwater. And the detention ponds obviously are not big enough,” he said.

Osmeña emphasized that while the city is not opposed to development, public safety must take precedence, particularly in flood-prone areas such as Barangay Guadalupe.

“That’s why we have a government here—so these things don’t happen. That’s why we regulate. We’re not anti-business or anti-development, but the priority is the safety of the people,” he said.

He clarified that he is not against all aspects of the project, noting that the construction of detention ponds may continue. However, he maintained that road works should be paused due to their impact on runoff.

“I’m not against the cease-and-desist on the road. On the construction of the detention ponds? Fine. It’s the roads that I am against because they accelerate the flow of water,” he said.

Osmeña also warned of stronger opposition if flooding worsens.

“If there’s another rain and it floods very hard, I will work very hard to cancel the whole project,” he said.

In a Facebook post on April 9, Osmeña reiterated that the burden of proof lies with the developer to demonstrate that the project will not exacerbate flooding.

“This is not a criminal trial, this is a matter of public safety. The burden of proof is not on the City Government to establish that Monterrazas is the cause of the flooding. The burden falls on the developer to prove that their project WILL NOT worsen flooding. And they have not,” he said.

He added that his opposition to the project dates back to 2008.

Osmeña’s remarks come after the Cebu City Council declined to impose a cease-and-desist order on the project through Resolution No. 17-3083-2026, authored by Councilor Jose Abellanosa.

The resolution cited findings from city offices and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), which indicated that flooding in parts of Barangay Guadalupe is due to multiple factors and cannot be attributed to a single development.

Technical assessments presented to the council pointed to existing drainage limitations, including undersized pipes and clogged waterways, as significant contributors to flooding.

The DENR-EMB also reported that the project has constructed 22 detention ponds with a combined capacity of about 62,468 cubic meters, designed to manage surface runoff and mitigate flood risks.

City officials further noted that suspending the project could leave these mitigation structures incomplete, potentially increasing flood hazards in low-lying communities.

Despite this, the council directed the developer, Mont Property Group, Inc., to ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements, including securing pending permits and submitting additional hydrological studies.

The resolution also called for closer coordination between the city government and the developer to address long-term drainage and flood mitigation concerns in Guadalupe and nearby areas.

Osmeña, however, maintained that regulatory action should prioritize preventing further risk.(TGP)