DENR to probe Cebu residential project after deadly floods

Metro Manila, Philippines - The government is poised to investigate a high-end residential hillside development in Cebu amid calls for accountability in the deadly flooding in the province, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said on Friday, Nov. 7.

In a statement, the DENR said it has formed a team to conduct an on-site probe on Monterrazas de Cebu – tied to celebrity-engineer Slater Young – on the mountain slopes of Cebu City.

Young is a development partner of the “Rise at Monterrazas,” a luxury residential condominium project that is part of Monterrazas de Cebu. He has yet to respond to new criticisms on his project.

The agency said the team will check compliance with the environmental compliance certificate (ECC), drainage efficiency, slope protection, runoff management systems, and the stability of slopes and the potential risks of landslide and flooding, among others.

The DENR also instructed the project proponent to submit engineering, geological, and geohazard assessments.

“If the investigation finds any violation of ECC conditions or environmental regulations, the DENR will not hesitate to enforce corrective actions, including suspension, penalties, or other legal remedies as provided by law,” it said.

The majority of the nearly 200 people killed in the aftermath of Typhoon Tino were from Cebu.

The rising death toll sparked calls for #JusticeForCebu, urging the government to probe flood control projects in the province and environmental issues that worsened the typhoon impact.