As Cebu reels from the devastation of Typhoon Tino, which left more than a hundred people dead and entire communities submerged in floodwaters and landslides, a mountainside luxury development has returned to the center of public debate.

The Rise at Monterrazas — a high-end residential project designed along a slope overlooking the city — is once again facing questions on whether upland development may have contributed to the scale and speed of flooding in surrounding low-lying areas.

The project is led by engineer and former Pinoy Big Brother winner Slater Young, who has not yet issued a public statement on the matter after the typhoon, prompting renewed demands for answers.

Concerns about the project are not new. As far back as 2023, environmental advocates and local residents warned that construction along steep terrain could increase runoff and erosion during heavy rains.
Young, at the time, rejected the criticism.

“This is just a small portion of the mountain,” Young said in a public video interview in 2023. “I wouldn’t have put my face on there if I didn’t believe in the project.”

He also said the development included detention ponds and water management features designed to prevent excess runoff, adding that the location was zoned residential and near established communities.

However, after Typhoon Tino, social media comments surged once again, with residents reporting unusually fast-moving floodwaters and muddy overflows in villages below the project site.

“We prepared for the typhoon. What we didn’t prepare for was the sudden rush of water from the mountain,” one resident wrote online. “We need accountability.”

Urban planners and geologists caution that while no single development can be blamed for widespread flooding, upland construction, deforestation, weak drainage infrastructure, and rapid urban growth can collectively worsen disaster impacts.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has not yet issued a statement on the project’s environmental compliance in light of the recent flooding.

“Asking questions is not harassment,” said one group. “These are matters of public safety.”