Developers: Monterrazas project helped prevent severe flooding during Typhoon Tino

Local

DEVELOPERS of the Monterrazas de Cebu project rejected claims linking the upland development to severe flooding during Typhoon Tino.

Citing an independent University of the Philippines (UP) study, developers instead credited the project for mitigating flood impacts.

In a press conference on Wednesday, April 15, Mont Property Group officials said a hydrologic assessment by UP’s Environmental Hydrology Laboratory concluded that the primary driver of flooding in November 2025 was extreme rainfall, not land development.

The study recorded 428 millimeters of rain within 24 hours during Typhoon Tino, a level the developers described as “highly exceptional” and comparable to historic flooding events such as Typhoon Ondoy in 2009.

“The primary cause of the flooding was the intensity of the rainfall itself, compounded by system-wide conditions across the broader Cebu area,” said Camille Bondad, the company’s general manager.

Moreover, Construction head Engineer Ranel Pelpinosas pointed to the project’s water management infrastructure, particularly its detention ponds, as critical in reducing flood risk.

At the time of the typhoon, the site had 18 detention ponds, designed to temporarily store rainwater and release it gradually.

According to the UP study cited by the developer, these structures captured up to 99.74 percent of excess rainwater at peak conditions.

The same study found that the ponds reduced the risk of flash flooding off-site by up to nearly 100 percent, with an average reduction of about 78 percent.

“The study does not simply find that our project did not worsen the flooding. It finds that the system we built helped reduce it,” Bondad said.

Pelpinosas added that additional ponds have since been constructed, bringing the total to 23, as part of ongoing mitigation and compliance efforts.

Meanwhile, developers emphasized that the Monterrazas site lies within the Guadalupe and Kinalumsan watersheds, separate from flood-affected areas such as Liloan, Cotcot, and Mananga.

They said the study confirmed there is no direct drainage connection between the project site and these communities, making it “physically impossible” for runoff from Monterrazas to contribute to flooding in those areas.

“The flooding during Typhoon Tino happened across the whole river basin because of very heavy rain — not just from one area,” the study noted, as cited by the company.

Legal counsel Marcelino Rongo said the developer has complied with requirements set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Environmental Management Bureau, including reporting obligations following damage to detention ponds during the typhoon.

He added that both the EMB stoppage order and a cease-and-desist order (CDO) issued by the Cebu City Council have since been lifted.

“The company has already complied with all its commitments. Most of these were reporting requirements, and these have been fulfilled,” Rongo said.

Developers said rehabilitation of partially damaged structures was completed as early as January, with continued improvements underway.

The company acknowledged public criticism following the flooding but maintained that conclusions should be based on scientific evidence.

“We firmly believe that if the wrong cause is identified, the real problem will never be solved,” Bondad said.

She added that the firm is coordinating with neighboring communities and local government units to strengthen drainage systems and support broader flood management efforts.

While stopping short of committing to compensation, the company said it would “fully answer” if future independent evidence establishes liability.

Mont Property Group said it will proceed with the project “carefully and responsibly,” with continued monitoring and coordination with regulators.(TGP)