VICE PRESIDENT Sara Duterte brushed off questions about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent inspection of the People’s Ville Housing Project in Barangay Riverside, Calinan District, instead emphasizing the project’s local roots from her tenure as mayor.
Speaking to reporters following a Thanksgiving Mass for the Kadayawan Festival at San Pedro Cathedral on Thursday, Aug. 6, Duterte explicitly pointed out that the socialized housing initiative was conceptualized under her city administration.
“Yes, I know, because that was our project when I was mayor, right? So, I don’t want to comment on his visit,” Duterte told reporters when asked about the President’s visit. “What’s better is that we let the people he visited comment because I’m not there.”
During his 30-minute walkthrough, Marcos inspected completed residential units and announced plans to add 42 more five-story buildings—aiming to scale the development to over 7,000 units alongside community infrastructure like schools and commercial stalls.
Duterte’s deliberate decision to decline further commentary comes amid escalating political friction between Malacañang and the Duterte camp, marked by recent exchanges over regional development, foreign policy, and administration priorities.
Instead of expanding on the presidential visit, the Vice President pivoted toward broader policy issues, urging the national government to treat flood control and mitigation as an urgent, nationwide priority rather than focusing solely on isolated localities.
