Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval has warned the public against misinformation circulating on social media about the city’s housing projects.

She urged Malabueños to remain vigilant against the spread of fake news, particularly the claims that misrepresent the cost and details of the housing initiatives.

The mayor issued the statement following a Facebook post that falsely labeled the housing units as “overpriced.”

According to the city's Public Information Office, the post was shared on Tuesday, February 4, by the Facebook page “Malabon Lubog.” It claimed that each 24-square meter housing unit was being sold for P3,863,636.

The city government immediately denied the allegations and clarified that no official information regarding the project's pricing has been released as it is still under construction.

Sandoval reassured residents that the city government remains committed to transparency and ensuring that housing programs are fair, accessible, and beneficial to Malabueños.

“Muli po tayong nagpapaalala na maging mapagmatyag at responsableng gumagamit ng social media. Hindi po lahat ng nakikita natin o nababasa ay totoo. Kaya naman po nawa’y tayo’y maging mapanuri (Once again, we remind everyone to be vigilant and responsible when using social media. Not everything we see or read is true. That’s why we should always be discerning and critical of the information we encounter,” she said. 

“Sa ngayon, ang ating proyektong pabahay sa Barangay Tinajeros ay kasalukuyang ipinapatayo. Nasa higit 60 percent na ito at sa ngayon ay wala pong kahit anong impormasyon o presyo sa pagkakaroon ng unit sa proyektong ito ang ating nai-aanunsiyo. Maghintay lamang po sa mga detalye mula sa ating pamahalaang lungsod (As of now, our housing project in Barangay Tinajeros is currently under construction. It is more than 60 percent complete, and at this time, we have not announced any information or pricing for a unit in this project. Please wait for further details from our city government),” Sandoval added. 

Meanwhile, the city’s Housing and Urban Development Department (CHUDD) head and City Administrator Dr. Alexander Rosete clarified that the final cost of the units will be determined after construction is completed, according to policies set by the City Housing and Tenants Security Committee (CHTSC) and the Beneficiary Selection, Arbitration, and Awards Committee (BSAAC).

Official announcements regarding pricing and beneficiary selection will come directly from the local government.

He also urged residents to rely on official sources for accurate information and warned that those spreading misinformation could face legal consequences under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10175).

“Hindi po natin hahayaan ang ganitong pagpapakalat ng mga maling balita. Mas mabuti po para sa bawat Malabueno ang lumapit sa mga tanggapan ng ating pamahalaan upang malaman ang totoo o tamang detalye ukol sa ating mga proyekto (We will not allow the spread of false information. Every Malabueño should approach our government offices to obtain accurate and correct details about our projects),” Rosete said. 

The CHUDD received a total of 18,816 housing applicants in 2024 and reopened its online registration for residents on January 24.

The city government emphasized that residents and housing applicants should visit the Malabon City Housing and Urban Development Department's Facebook page for legitimate updates regarding the project.