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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Ang layo pa sa katotohanan': Palace bares unfinished works on PH Film Heritage Building under Discaya firm

'Ang layo pa sa katotohanan': Palace bares unfinished works on PH Film Heritage Building under Discaya firm

Published Sep 4, 2025 08:16 pm
Philippine Film Heritage Building in Intramuros, Manila (Photo courtesy of PPA)
Philippine Film Heritage Building in Intramuros, Manila (Photo courtesy of PPA)
Malacañang revealed that the construction of the Philippine Film Heritage Building in Intramuros, Manila was supposed to be completed on Thursday, Sept. 4, but it was instead found incomplete, baring several structural issues.
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said during an inspection that poor structural design and incomplete works were observed in the building.
"Ang layo pa sa katotohanan itong proyektong ito (This projects is still far from reality)," Castro said.
The project's contract price was P107,983,128. 81. It officially started in December 2024 and was expected to be completed on Sept. 4, 2025.
The contractor was Great Pacific Builders and Gen. Contractor, Inc. — a firm owned by the Discayas.
The Philippine Film Heritage Building, a project of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, is being built as part of the government's larger attempts to boost tourism and cultural appreciation in the country.
According to Castro, the contractor has yet to reach out to the government. She stressed that it is the contractor's obligation to explain why the project completion was delayed.
"Dahil sila dapat ang unang mag-reach out sa DPWH, sa Pangulo, at kung sino man ang dapat nilang makausap tungkol dito para malaman natin ano ba ang nangyari (Because they should be the first to reach out to the DPWH, to the President, and to whoever they need to talk to about this so that we can find out what really happened)," Castro said.
"So, sila dapat ang magsabi bakit medyo na-delay, bakit ganito yung hitsura? Bakit parang hindi maganda, bakit below standard yung nakita naming pagkakagawa sa building (So, they should be the ones to explain why it was delayed, why it looks like this, why it does not seem good, why what we saw in the building’s construction appears below standard)," Castro added.
The Palace official said there was an alleged collusion between the contractor and the DPWH, adding that this may lead to an investigation.
Castro also disclosed that President Marcos was not yet informed about the issue, but the First Lady was dismayed over the project.
"Unang una, sabi niya pakiramdam niya is tayo pa ba na nasa gobyerno, magbibigay lang sana ng regalo sa film industry, siya pang naloko, hindi ba. So, mas masakit yun kasi ito naman ay hindi pang kanila, hindi pang personal, para sa film industry, so yun ang masakit dun (First of all, she said she felt that: we in government, who were just supposed to give a gift to the film industry, ended up being the ones deceived, right? So that’s even more painful because this was not for them, not for personal gain, for the film industry — and that’s what makes it hurt more)," Castro said.

Related Tags

Philippine Film Heritage Building Great Pacific Builders and Gen. Contractor First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos
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