Cebu City Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña has maintained that flooding in Barangay Guadalupe cannot be separated from the ongoing Monterrazas de Cebu development, disputing earlier claims that the project is not a direct cause.
Osmeña said recent flood incidents coincide with intensified construction activity in the area, particularly road works that he believes are changing how water flows downhill.
“If you know the situation, what I am trying to say is that they should stop building more roads because you’re accelerating the water going down,” Osmeña said in a press conference on Friday, April 10.
He also raised concerns over the project’s flood mitigation measures, particularly detention ponds intended to manage runoff.
“They should increase the sizes of detention ponds. Clearly, it’s not enough,” he added.
The vice mayor rejected arguments that flooding in Guadalupe cannot be directly linked to the development, saying the timing of recent events is significant.
“They say you cannot attribute it only to that. It’s attributed only to that period. There’s no flooding before,” he said.
Osmeña reiterated his position that the burden lies with the developer to prove the project will not worsen flooding in surrounding communities.
He has consistently opposed the Monterrazas project, warning that large-scale earthworks and terrain modifications could alter natural drainage patterns and increase runoff toward low-lying areas.
The issue comes after the Cebu City Council earlier declined to issue a cease-and-desist order against the project, citing technical findings that flooding in Guadalupe is caused by multiple factors, including limited drainage capacity, tributary inflows, and clogged waterways.
Despite the council’s position, Osmeña said the absence of flooding prior to construction remains a key concern that should not be overlooked as development continues.
The Monterrazas project, developed by Mont Property Group Inc., includes detention ponds designed to control water flow, though city officials noted that compliance with permitting requirements is still ongoing.
The council has also called for tighter monitoring and additional hydrological studies to assess the project’s long-term impact on flooding risks in affected communities. (LLP)
Image: Sangguniang Panglungsod Cebu City Secretariat
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