Cleverpens

by: Fatima Winniclare Jayme, MBA, LPT. EdD

The Monterrazas is a planned feature of the larger development. This residential condominium project was first announced in 2023. The concept and design of the Banaue Rice Terraces were intended to harmonize with the natural mountain topography.

As early as 2023, both environmentalists and Cebu residents expressed concern that construction on steep terrain would worsen runoff and erosion during heavy rains. SLater Young dismissed the criticism and confidently promoted Monterrazas de Cebu as an ideal location for residents who seek both comfort and accessibility.

Monterrazas de Cebu encompasses a residential land area of 200 hectares, or approximately 490 acres, located across Barangay Guadalupe, Barangay Sapangdaku, Barangay Buhisan, and Barangay Tisa in Cebu City, providing a panoramic view. The development is situated on hillsides overlooking Cebu City, Mactan, and Bohol. Despite being just minutes away from schools, hospitals, and shopping malls, the active, high-end luxury housing development is currently under scrutiny because of its potential environmental threat to nearby communities.

Monterrazas is often mentioned in current discussions as a cautionary example, with the public concerned about a potential repeat of a “Cherry Hills subdivision in the making” if environmental concerns are not properly addressed.

The primary difference between Cherry Hill Subdivision and Monterrazas de Cebu includes the following: 

In short, the Cherry Hills subdivision in Antipolo became notorious for a significant landslide caused by inadequate safety precautions and poor geological assessments. In the same way, the Cherry Hills community was the site of a catastrophic landslide in 1999 that killed several people and led to a lawsuit against the developer. On the other hand, Monterrazza de Cebu is a high-end development in Cebu City that combines current engineering and design ideas. It markets its safety and high-end amenities to the high-end market. However, during the writing of this report, Monterraza’s high-end construction came under criticism for exacerbating Cebu’s flooding.

Key Distinctions

Market Position: Monterrazas is explicitly positioned as a luxurious, high-end “peak of luxury” development with prices reaching tens of millions to hundreds of millions of pesos. Cherry Hill was a more standard, mid-range housing project.

Outcome of Environmental Neglect: Cherry Hill Subdivision’s issues led to a historical tragedy, resulting in legal charges and significant regulatory changes in the Philippines’ housing project approval process. Monterrazas de Cebu is currently in the midst of an ongoing public and regulatory debate, with calls for an investigation into its environmental impact following recent floods.

Development Stage: Cherry Hill is a completed project that has been the subject of retrospective case studies on disaster risk. Monterrazas is a massive, multi-phase project still under development, with new sections and towers being launched (like The Rise).

Architectural Concept: Monterrazas de Cebu features unique, “Banaue Rice Terraces-inspired” architectural designs intended to mimic natural topography, though the execution is debated by critics.

Takeaways:

Imagine that more than SEVEN HUNDRED (700) HARDWOOD TREES were cut down to construct a luxurious home for residents. Earth unleashed a powerful storm, unveiling lessons not found in books or open resources. The lessons are REAL.

Guide Questions:

1. What is Monterraza de Cebu?
2. What are the development goals?
3. How significant is Monterraza de Cebu to Cebu’s economy?
4. Aside from awareness, how can we promote environmental responsibility in our community?
5. How are the theories of consequentialism and utilitarianism relevant to the Monterraza case?

Until next time, CleverpenFatywines.