Cebu City Faces Tragedy and Controversy After Severe Flooding
Cebu City is reeling from devastating floods that claimed multiple lives, sparking intense online discussions about environmental responsibility and urban development. The tragedy has drawn public attention to a high-end residential project developed by prominent vlogger and former Pinoy Big Brother: Unlimited winner Slater Young.
Luxury Development Faces Public Scrutiny
The Rise at Monterrazas, a luxury mountainside residential development in Barangay Guadalupe, has become the center of controversy following the recent flooding disaster. Numerous social media users are pointing to the project as a potential contributor to the flash floods that overwhelmed parts of the city.
Lawyer Jesus Falcis took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his concerns, stating: "It can clearly be seen that construction is still ongoing and they're still cutting trees on the mountain. Literally, as the song goes, 'they paved paradise to put up a parking lot!'" His post quickly gained traction among concerned citizens.
Growing Calls for Investigation
The online criticism has escalated into demands for official action. One netizen directly questioned the regulatory oversight, asking: "Why did the DENR allow Slater Young to strip Cebu's mountains that caused flash floods? His luxury homes should be part of the investigation."
Adding legal weight to the concerns, lawyer Wilfredo Garrido published a viral statement titled "Cebu City: Reaping the Whirlwind," which accused city leaders of turning a blind eye to mountain bulldozing activities. The statement suggests that the environmental damage had been occurring with insufficient regulatory intervention.
As of November 7, 2025, Slater Young has not publicly addressed the allegations. His most recent Facebook activity dates back to October 18, leaving many questions unanswered about the environmental impact assessment and mitigation measures for The Rise at Monterrazas project.
The situation highlights the ongoing tension between urban development and environmental conservation in rapidly growing Philippine cities, with many calling for stricter enforcement of environmental regulations by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
