Mainit pa ring pinag-uusapan ang The Rise at Monterazzas project na dinisenyo ni Slater Young.
Nakakita kasi ng tatlong violations ang Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) sa nasabing real estate development sa Cebu City.
Ayon sa report ng GMA News noong November 13, 2025, ang violations na nakita ng DENR ay tungkol sa pagputol ng puno, kawalan ng permit, at kakulangan sa nakaplanong sa retention pond.
Matatandaang itinuro ng maraming Cebuano ang luxury project na isa sa mga dahilan ng malubhang pagbaha, na nagbunsod ng pagkamatay ng lagpas sa 100 katao.
Ang Mont Property Group ang real estate company na nasa likod ng The Rise at Monterazzas.
DENR FINDINGS
Ang unang violation ay tungkol sa malawakang pagtanggal ng puno sa bundok ng Guadalupe, kung saan binubuo ang Monterazzas.
Saad ng DENR, 11 na puno na lang ang natira sa bundok, mula sa 700 na puno noong 2022.
Violation daw ito sa Section 77 ng Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines at sa Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System.
Pangalawa, hindi raw nakakuha ng discharge permit ang mga developer ng Monterazzas.
Ayon sa Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, kailangan ng discharge permit para makapagtapon ng maruming tubig ang isang real estate development.
Pangatlo, kulang pa raw ang nagagawang retention ponds sa Monterazzas.
Nakaplano umano na gagawa ang mga developer ng centralized retention pond na may 15 na supporting structures, para makahuli ng 18,500 cubic meters na tubig ulan.
“Ang nakita lang namin is only 12, retention pond, sapat ba 'yun? parang hindi siya sapat. Dapat i-upgrade,” saad ni Eddie Llamedo, DENR Region 7 assistant director, sa panayam ng GMA News.
Bukod sa tatlong violation na ito ay nakita rin ng DENR na nilabag ng Monterazzas developers ang 10 sa kanilang 33 Environmental Compliance Certificates.
Dahil dito ay maaari umano silang mapatawan ng administrative o kriminal na kaso.
Read: Monterrazas project ni Slater Young iimbestigahan ng DENR at DPWH
SLATER STILL NO SHOW, MONT RELEASES STATEMENT
Samantala, tikom pa rin ang bibig ni Slater tungkol sa nasabing issue.
Wala pa siyang nilalabas na opisyal na statement sa media, o kahit sa kanyang mga social media accounts.
Samantala, naglabas ng statement ng Mont Property Group noong Sabado, November 14, 2025, sa kanilang official Facebook page.
Dito ay pinabulaanan nila agad ang akusasyon ng DENR tungkol sa pagputol ng puno.
“The claim that Monterazzas de Cebu cut down more than 700 trees is grievously false, and we are confident that any evidence that may be presented to assert this narrative can easily be disproven.”
Pinabulaanan din nila na ang Monterazzas ang dahilan ng malawakang pagbaha sa Cebu. Anila, masyado raw malayo ang proyekto sa mga binahang lugar.
Pahayag ng Mont: “While we acknowledge the localized flooding observed in our vicinity and continue to coordinate with the proper authorities, it is important to clarify a simple geographic reality.
“Monterrazas de Cebu is located in Barangay Guadalupe, which is several kilometers away from the heavily flood-stricken areas in Liloan, Mandaue, and Talisay, which unfortunately suffered the most severe impacts.
“These areas fall under completely different drainage basins and natural waterways.
“To put this in context, it would be akin to suggesting that a development in Tagaytay City caused flooding in Makati City, The locations, watersheds, and flow paths simply do not intersect.”
Read: Albie Casiño slams Slater Young’s silence amid Cebu floods
FULL STATEMENT OF MONT PROPERTY GROUP
Narito ang buong statement ng Mont Property Group:
“Monterazzas de Cebu welcomes all impartial investigations by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). We are committed to work with the agency to ensure the highest standards of environmental integrity and community safety across Cebu's hillside developments.
“We must, however, categorically refute premature pronouncements by the DENR regarding alleged tree cutting activities. The claim that Monterazzas de Cebu cut down more than 700 trees is grievously false, and we are confident that any evidence that may be presented to assert this narrative can easily be disproven.
“Pursuant to our approved Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and Development Permit, only shrubs and secondary undergrowth were cleared to facilitate the necessary earthworks. The duly submitted Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) —DENR Region VII even reflected that the site was predominantly covered by grass, shrubs, and small plants, with minimal to no topsoil, and the area could not support agricultural activity and was characterized mainly by non-woody vegetation.
“We are likewise aware of the misinformation circulating online that incorrectly attributes the widespread flooding across Cebu to our development. While we acknowledge the localized flooding observed in our vicinity and continue to coordinate with the proper authorities, it is important to clarify a simple geographic reality. Monterrazas de Cebu is located in Barangay Guadalupe, which is several kilometers away from the heavily flood-stricken areas in Liloan, Mandaue, and Talisay, which unfortunately suffered the most severe impacts. These areas fall under completely different drainage basins and natural waterways.
“To put this in context, it would be akin to suggesting that a development in Tagaytay City caused flooding in Makati City. The locations, watersheds, and flow paths simply do not intersect.
“Regarding regulatory compliance, our track record demonstrates a commitment to exceeding the required mandates, For instance, in flood mitigation, the DENR required a total detention pond capacity of 26,701 cubic meters for the property, Monterazzas proactively installed a system with a capacity Of 40,413 cubic meters, representing a 5196 increase over the required standard.
“Monterazzas de Cebu stands by the integrity of its work, its processes, and its long-term partnership with both the government and the communities we serve. We remain deeply mindful of the hardships caused by Typhoon Tino and extend our sincere concern to the families working to recover from its impacts. As part of our commitment to community partnership, we are ready to collaborate with local authorities and residents on efforts that can further strengthen safety and resilience in our surrounding areas.”