DAVAO CITY (August 3)—The national government will construct 42 more residential buildings in the newly inaugurated People’s Village Housing project in Calinan District.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has announced that his administration’s push to transform government housing from simple shelter projects into integrated, sustainable communities under the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.
The expansion will increase the project to 72 residential buildings with approximately 7,200 condominium-type housing units, making People’s Ville one of the largest government housing developments in Mindanao. The President said he expects the additional 42 buildings to be completed by the end of 2027.
During his inspection of the project, President Marcos stressed that the government’s housing initiative is no longer focused solely on building houses but on developing complete communities capable of sustaining families over the long term.
“Hindi lang tayo gumagawa ng bahay. Gumagawa tayo ng community na kumpleto na lahat,” the President said.
He explained that housing projects should provide residents with convenient access to schools, markets, transportation, health services, employment opportunities, parks, and other essential public facilities, saying communities cannot thrive if families have homes but lack access to basic services.
Addressing the Housing Backlog
The People’s Ville project forms part of the Marcos administration’s flagship Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program, launched in 2022 to reduce the country’s housing backlog through partnerships among the national government, local government units, government financial institutions, and private developers.
Unlike previous housing initiatives that largely focused on relocating informal settler families, the expanded 4PH program emphasizes vertical housing developments in urban centers and integrated townships designed to bring homes closer to workplaces, schools, and commercial districts while making home ownership more affordable through government financing and interest subsidies.
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) describes the program as a shift toward “in-city resettlement”, minimizing displacement and enabling beneficiaries to maintain access to jobs, education, healthcare, and public transportation.
The expansion of People’s Ville features Mindanao’s growing role in the national housing program.
Located on a 14-hectare site in Barangay Riverside, Calinan District, the project has already completed 26 residential buildings with about 2,600 housing units, while more than 400 families have begun occupying completed units through the government’s affordable housing program.
Once fully completed, the township will feature: schools; commercial centers; transport terminals; parks and playgrounds; outdoor recreational facilities; multi-purpose halls; a chapel; and other community amenities designed to create a self-sustaining neighborhood rather than a conventional relocation site.
Housing experts note that one of the distinguishing features of the Marcos administration’s 4PH Program is its emphasis on building communities instead of merely constructing housing units.
Previous relocation projects in various parts of the country often faced criticism because beneficiaries were transferred to distant sites lacking schools, healthcare facilities, transportation, and livelihood opportunities, forcing some families to abandon their housing units and return to informal settlements.
The People’s Ville model seeks to address these longstanding concerns by integrating residential buildings with social services, public infrastructure, commercial spaces, and recreational facilities, making communities more livable and economically sustainable.
The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) welcomed the continued expansion of the project, describing it as an important component of the government’s broader strategy to promote inclusive and balanced development across Mindanao.
MinDA Chairperson Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno said the People’s Ville project demonstrates how coordinated investments in housing, infrastructure, and public services can improve living conditions while stimulating local economic growth.
“The President’s vision of building complete communities resonates with MinDA’s mission of advancing inclusive development in Mindanao. Housing, when integrated with infrastructure, economic opportunities, and essential services, becomes a catalyst for stronger, more resilient communities and sustained regional growth,” Magno said.
He added that community-centered housing developments contribute to creating more livable, productive, and disaster-resilient communities while supporting Mindanao’s long-term social and economic transformation.
President Marcos’ visit came a day after his fourth State of the Nation Address and followed recent flooding that affected several communities in Davao City.
During his visit, he also instructed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to review flood-prone areas and revisit the 2023 flood-control master plan prepared with the assistance of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), emphasizing that housing development should be accompanied by investments in disaster mitigation and resilient infrastructure.
Government planners say integrating resilient housing, flood-control systems, transportation networks, and essential public services reflects the administration’s broader objective of creating safer and more sustainable urban communities capable of withstanding the growing impacts of climate change.
As construction continues, People’s Ville is expected to become a model for future 4PH developments in Mindanao, demonstrating how government housing can evolve from simple relocation sites into complete, inclusive communities that provide families not only with a home but also with opportunities for education, employment, and a better quality of life.-Editha Z Caduaya
