Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has declared the condition of the city's upland communities a serious cause for concern following a near-fatal landslide in Barangay Bacayan and mounting questions about hillside development projects, including the controversial Monterrazas de Cebu.
Landslide Incident Prompts Immediate Action
The mayor's alarm comes after a dangerous incident in Bacayan where a 25-year-old man narrowly survived when soil and debris collapsed from the high fence of a subdivision above his residence. This event has intensified scrutiny on earth-moving activities throughout Cebu's upland areas.
During a press conference held on Monday, November 17, 2025, Archival revealed he personally visited Bacayan and witnessed trucks from one subdivision hauling materials. "I instructed Cenro to check all the developers and give me a report, especially if they are quarrying or flattening the land, because that alarmed me," the mayor stated.
Archival warned that such unchecked activities not only threaten residents living below slopes but also disrupt natural waterways. He noted that a creek near the Bacayan cemetery had been cut off, forcing people to pass through the riverbed and causing significant traffic congestion in the area.
Controversy Over Tree Cutting in Monterrazas de Cebu
The mayor expressed particular concern over reports that more than 700 trees were cut inside the Monterrazas de Cebu development. While he awaits a full report from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), conflicting accounts have emerged about the extent of vegetation removal.
According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), only 11 out of 745 trees documented in 2022 remain standing inside the Monterrazas property. A joint inspection also found that only 12 detention ponds were built, fewer than the 16 required by regulations.
The developer has strongly denied cutting any trees, claiming they only removed shrubs and secondary growth while describing the DENR's findings as "grievously false." When asked whether the city had issued permits for tree cutting, Archival responded: "I don't think so. In fact, they said there were supposedly no trees, so what would there be to cut?"
Call for Environmentally Responsible Development
Mayor Archival emphasized that upland development must shift from profit-driven to environmentally responsible practices. "Developing housing is really about making a profit. But we should balance our development," he stressed.
The mayor added that even if developers profit from their projects, they should avoid harming the environment because the negative impacts will eventually affect the entire community. He warned that the consequences of irresponsible development extend far beyond the immediate project area.
City Hall is now closely monitoring subdivisions in Bacayan and surrounding barangays, particularly those engaged in quarrying or slope flattening activities, as it awaits CENRO's complete findings and recommendations.
