Sen. Risa Hontiveros grilled a DENR official during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing over how the Monterrazas de Cebu project received an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) despite repeated warnings about its hillside location.
DENR-EMB Central Visayas director Victoria Abrera said the project underwent the full Environmental Impact Assessment and was approved by an independent body, but she could not specify who granted the clearance.
Hontiveros criticized the DENR for turning a “blind eye” to the risks, highlighting multiple red flags about structural safety and potential harm to the surrounding community.
The Monterrazas development, led by celebrity engineer Slater Young, has defended its design, claiming over 300 revisions were made to ensure stability and environmental safety.
Concerns have intensified after Typhoon Tino caused severe flooding and landslides in Cebu, killing 138 people in Central Visayas, with fears that hillside projects like Monterrazas may have worsened the disaster’s impact.
Source: PhilNews24 | November 15, 2025
HONTIVEROS QUESTIONS DENR OVER APPROVAL OF MONTERAZZAS DESPITE RED FLAGS
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