Posted by ReyFort Media
Months after being at the center of controversy, Slater Young has finally broken his silence regarding the Monterrazas development and its alleged link to the devastating floods in Cebu.
The issue stemmed from the tragic impact of Typhoon Tino November last year, which led to severe flooding and claimed nearly 100 lives.
In the aftermath, residents and netizens pointed fingers at the luxury mountainside project developed by Mont Property Group, citing deforestation and its hillside location as possible causes.
In a video posted on April 19, Young addressed the controversy for the first time, explaining why he and his family chose to remain quiet while the issue was unfolding.
“Like many of you, our family was deeply saddened by the devastation of Typhoon Tino,” he said, offering condolences to victims. He emphasized that their decision not to speak out immediately was intentional, as authorities were still conducting investigations.
“We held back because we believed that the right thing to do was to let the proper investigations run its course… and let the science and evidence speak,” he explained.
Young also admitted that the backlash took a toll on his family, saying they endured “a great deal of criticism,” but chose to stay focused on the bigger picture, the suffering of those directly affected by the disaster.
Following the tragedy, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ordered a halt to the project and launched an investigation, which initially cited several violations. The developer later paid a ₱400,000 fine, and by April, authorities allowed construction to resume.
Young, however, pointed to findings from the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Science Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, which he said cleared Monterrazas of blame.
According to the study released in March 2026, the primary cause of the flooding was the unprecedented volume of rainfall brought by Typhoon Tino.
“Typhoon Tino dumped over a month’s worth of rainfall on Cebu in one single day. And that amount of water would have flooded those areas regardless of what was or was not built,” Young said.
He added that the project’s infrastructure may have even helped mitigate the flooding.
“Our detention ponds caught and held back up to 99.74% of the excess rainwater… releasing it slowly instead of letting it all rush downhill all at once.”
“The science does not just say we did not cause the flooding—it says that the systems we have built in place help reduce it,” he stressed.
Young concluded his statement by calling for responsible discussions moving forward and pushing back against what he described as misinformation surrounding the project.
“We respect everyone’s right to their own opinion. But we will not stay silent in the face of deliberate misinformation,” he said, adding that he is prepared to take necessary steps to protect his family.
Young first rose to public attention after winning “Pinoy Big Brother: Unlimited” before transitioning into business and construction.
After his showbiz stint, he built a career in engineering and real estate development, becoming a co-founder of the luxury hillside development project. (N. Ramos/mb.com.ph)
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