Mont Property Group Inc., the developer behind Monterrazas de Cebu, has informed the Cebu City Council that all 24 detention ponds on the property have been completed and are now operational. In a letter dated June 15, 2026, addressed to Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña, the developer stated that their flood-control infrastructure exceeds legal requirements by more than double.
Developer Responds to City Council Concerns
The submission was made in response to repeated calls from Osmeña for the city government to halt construction activities at Monterrazas until all water retention facilities and other flood-control structures were finished. Through their legal representative, MN Law, Mont Property Group said they had provided the Cebu City Council with the proper Detailed Schematic Diagram and Flood Mitigation Plan on May 18, along with their April 2026 progress report on flood prevention and mitigation measures.
According to the company, these submissions were made in compliance with agreements reached during a meeting with the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) 7 on November 13, 2025, and in accordance with the requirements of the city council resolution adopted in March 2026.
Expansion of Detention Facilities
Initially, Monterrazas had 18 completed detention ponds serving existing residential communities and portions of the mountainside under development. Following rehabilitation work and the construction of six additional detention ponds, the company now reports a total of 24 fully completed and operational detention ponds.
Detention ponds, also known as retention ponds, are designed to temporarily hold stormwater and reduce the speed and volume of water flowing downstream during heavy rainfall. Mont Property Group stated that the completed detention ponds now serve 14 identified catchment areas spanning over 118.4 hectares.
Capacity Exceeds Requirements
Under the approved drainage and flood-mitigation design, the project required a minimum detention pond capacity of 26,701 cubic meters. However, the company reports that its 24 detention ponds now hold a total of 62,710.5 cubic meters, exceeding the required capacity. The largest capacities are in Catchment Areas C-01 and C-06, which together account for nearly 48,000 cubic meters of storage.
Mont Property Group said it continues to submit regular monitoring reports on the detention ponds to EMB-7, with copies provided to the Cebu City Council and Barangay Guadalupe. According to the developer, the reports indicate that rehabilitation work has been completed and all 24 detention ponds have been operational since January 30, 2026.
