The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 found that The Rise at Monterrazas de Cebu, an upscale residential development on the mountains of Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City has several violations.
DENR 7, according to Ivan Mayrina’s report on 24 Oras on Thursday, November 13, 2025, confirmed that Monterrazas de Cebu violated Section 77 of Presidential Decree 705 of the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines (1975).
Of 745 trees in 2022, only 11 have been found standing in 2025, based on DENR’s tree inventory.
Monterrazas de Cebu has violated Presidential Decree 1586, or the Establishment of the Philippines Environmental Impact Statement System, and Republic Act 9275, or The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004.
“Ang analysis, is itong 18,500 cubic meters or itong mga na-establish or to be established pa na mga retention pond that would somehow catch yung mga water para ma-eliminate or ma-prevent yung run-off going down,” said DENR 7 Assistant Director Eddie Llamedo.
In addition, Llamedo said that Monterrazas de Cebu needs to upgrade its water retention ponds.
“Ang nakita namin is only 12 retention ponds. Sapat ba yun? Parang hindi siya sapat. Dapat i-upgrade,” Llamedo added.
VIRAL VIDEO
A video on the flooding in Barangay Guadalupe blamed on Monterrazas de Cebu went viral.
When Typhoon Tino battered Cebu on November 4, 2025, a netizen who claimed to be a worker of the said development project took a video of floodwaters cascading the slopes of Monterrazas de Cebu.
The netizen who uses the handle “Villarmia Ragasajo JuniorSenyong” showed the scenario at the onslaught of Typhoon Tino in Cebu.
The footage showed swift runoff water from the mountains, where the upscale residential development is situated, finding its way down the mountains.
He took a video of the water retention pond of Monterrazas de Cebu that was deemed damaged by the strong current of the floodwaters.
As the location is near Banawa, Guadalupe, he showed in another video the destroyed perimeter wall of a subdivision due to strong floodwaters.
This video has circulated with over 1.2 million views and thousands of shares and reactions.
GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak tried to get a comment from the said netizen but he has not replied yet to the message sent by the news team.
However, in a post, he cited that several individuals have been looking for him since the video went viral. So as to protect the contractor, he said, he decided to quit his job.
CONTROVERSIAL REAL ESTATE PROJECT
A report on GMA Entertainment, the official entertainment site of GMA Network, said that former Pinoy Big Brother winner Slater Young whose hillside project, The Rise at Monterrazas, draws flak following the devastating Cebu floods caused by Typhoon Tino.
"The typhoon's aftermath sparked discussions online about Slater's controversial real estate project which some netizens believe may have contributed to the massive flooding," the report said.
The high-end, “terraced, Banaue-inspired” residential development is located in Barangay Guadalupe and was launched in 2023.
"Netizens expressed outrage over large-scale construction projects on mountain slopes like Slater's, noting that the intense flooding submerged several barangays and thousands of homes. Many also pointed out that Cebu has never experienced such severe flooding before," the report added.
In 2023, netizens had already questioned Young's large-scale project, warning it could trigger landslides and flooding.
In past interviews, Young defended the development, saying it underwent more than 300 design revisions to “ensure environmental safety and structural stability.”
The report also cited that Young previously denied accusations from netizens claiming he benefited from taxpayers' money as a government contractor.
(via GMA Integrated News; Video courtesy: Villarmia Ragasajo JuniorSenyong via Lou-Anne Mae Rondina/GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak)
