Malacañang slams VP Sara for credit-grabbing People’s Ville in Davao

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday rejected what it described as attempts by some individuals to take credit for the People’s Ville housing project in Davao City, saying government records show the project was developed under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

According to Palace press officer Claire Castro, the People’s Ville project in Calinan District was part of Marcos’ Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program, which aims to provide decent, safe and dignified housing to Filipino families.

“This project was planned and worked on by the current administration of President Marcos because this is what the President wants for our fellow Filipinos,” Castro said.

She accused unnamed individuals of “pretending” that the project belonged to them despite having no contribution to the efforts of Marcos and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

Speaking to reporters in Davao City on Aug. 6, Vice President Sara Duterte claimed the People’s Ville housing project was initiated during her term as mayor.

She, however, declined to comment on Marcos’ visit to the housing project on July 28, saying she would rather leave that to the residents who personally met him.

“Yes, I know, project namin ’yan nung mayor ako, ’di ba? So ayaw ko mag-comment sa kanyang pagbisita (Yes, I know. That was our project when I was mayor, right? So I don’t want to comment on his visit),” Duterte said.

Davao People’s Ville documents presented

During Tuesday’s briefing, Castro presented documents showing the project’s development permit was issued on July 18, 2023, which was already a year into the Marcos administration.

She also cited Certificate of Registration No. 0002414 for the People’s Ville 1, 2 and 3 condominium project, which was issued on June 20, 2024.

The building permit application was dated Dec. 6, 2023, while the permit itself was issued on Feb. 16, 2024, she said.

“So, it is important for us to be discerning,” Castro said. “This project is for our fellow Filipinos. It is not for anyone to take credit for.”

According to the latest DHSUD report cited by Castro, more than 2,600 housing units have been completed at People’s Ville. Four buildings containing 400 units are still under construction.

The project is designed to have 72 residential buildings with a total of 7,200 condominium units.

Castro said the project had provided homes to former renters, some of whom had spent more than two decades moving from one rented home to another.

She credited the administration’s housing program and DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling for helping end the beneficiaries’ long wait for permanent homes.

“People’s Ville is only one of President Marcos’ housing projects for our fellow Filipinos in different parts of the country,” Castro said. “The President’s goal is clear: to provide decent, safe and dignified housing for every Filipino family.”

She also assured Davao City residents that they would continue to receive support from the Marcos administration. /jpv

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