Malacañang slams alleged credit-grabber over Davao City housing project

The Palace on Tuesday referred to someone as a credit-grabber for a housing project in Davao City while not outright identifying them.

During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that the People’s Ville housing project was a project from President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

“Isang maayos na pabahay, isang tunay na komunidad, ngunit ang proyektong ito ay pilit na inaagaw ng ilang mapagpanggap na kahit wala silang anumang kontribusyon sa pagod ng Pangulong Marcos Jr. at ng DHSUD ay pilit bubulagin ang mga kababayan natin sa pamamagitan ng pagpapanggap na kanila raw ang proyekto na People’s Ville sa Davao City,” she said.

(A proper housing project, a true community, and yet this project is being snatched away by some pretenders even if they did not contribute to the efforts of President Marcos Jr. and the DHSUD and attempt to blind our citizens by pretending that the People's Ville project in Davao City came from them.)

While Castro did not name names, her statements come after Vice President Sara Duterte said that the People’s Ville project was initiated during her term as mayor.

Castro came ready with receipts, showing documents that the project began during Marcos’ time. For example, the Certificate of Registration was issued in 2024, while the development permit was issued in 2023.

“So, mainam po na maging mapanuri tayo, at ang proyektong ito ay para po sa ating mga kababayan, hindi para magpabida ang sinuman kung hindi laan ito para sa ating mga kababayan lalung-lalo na sa Davao City,” Castro said.

(So it would be better that we are critical, and this project is for our citizens, not for anyone to play hero, but it is for our citizens especially in Davao.)

Castro, citing data from the DHSUD, said that there were 2,6000 housing units done, and four more buildings are under construction. — BM, GMA News