The University of the Philippines' Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology has cautioned against interpreting its flood modeling research as a ruling on liability for Cebu's deadly 2025 Typhoon Tino floods. The statement responds to a video by celebrity engineer Slater Young citing the study to claim his Monterrazas de Cebu project did not contribute to the flooding that killed over 100 people. IESM stressed to Philstar.com that the analysis relies on specific assumptions and defined boundaries.
The University of the Philippines' Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM) issued a statement to Philstar.com regarding its flood modeling research from the Environmental Hydrology Laboratory led by Dr. Mayzonee Ligaray. IESM noted that, like all scientific studies, the analysis rests on specific assumptions, defined model boundaries, and particular objectives, so findings must be viewed in that context alone. It clarified that the results "neither determine nor preclude liability for any involved party."
On April 19, celebrity engineer Slater Young, co-founder of Mont Property Group's Monterrazas de Cebu luxury hillside project, posted a video citing the UP study as proof that the development did not cause or worsen the Typhoon Tino floods. Without naming Young, IESM underscored "the importance of interpreting scientific findings within their proper technical scope and alongside broader multidisciplinary and community considerations."
Ligaray told Rappler on April 21 that the study is unfinished, with findings shared on social media March 2 covering only two of six river basins—Guadalupe and Kinalumsan—with four more pending. In comments to environmental outlet Sustina, she said it is not an Environmental Impact Assessment and that Monterrazas' detention ponds "acted as a buffer," but qualified that basin-wide flooding involves other watershed and flood model factors.
The DENR temporarily halted Monterrazas operations after finding violations of 10 out of 33 conditions in its Environmental Compliance Certificate, including insufficient drainage systems. The DENR Region 7 office has since lifted the cessation order, coinciding with the weekend of Young's video.