Senator Cynthia Villar has defended her family’s business, saying that Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. does not buy agricultural lands in provinces and convert them into residential and commercial areas.
In an interview with Iloilo reporters on Nov. 17, Villar said property developers only buy lands in cities and capital towns because people find those easier to resell.
“Wala namang magpupunta sa mga probinsyang malayo. ‘Pag bibili ka ng bahay, bibili ka din sa syudad kasi kung gusto mo nang ibenta, may bibili. Kung dadalhin mo sa malayo, wala namang bibili,” she explained.
“Halimbawa nabili na ang bahay mo sa city, you can buy na land outside of the city and do your agriculture. Diba malaking opportunity sa’yo na maibenta?”
According to the senator, converting lands in cities into subdivisions are allowed.
“I think every province is entitled to a capital town or a city where there are industrial opportunity, commercial opportunity and housing projects,” Villar said.
“In fact many capital towns and cities ang nakikiusap sa amin na magtayo kami ng mall sa kanila,” she added.
Considered the largest homebuilder in the Philippines, Vista Land and Lifescapes operates Camella Homes, Lumina Homes and others.
The issue of decreasing agricultural lands in provinces was raised by Senator Raffy Tulfo during his interpellation for the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) budget for 2023 last week.
“Lumiliit po nang lumiliit ang ating farmland. Binibibli po ng malalaking developer at ginagawang residential at commercial land,” he said.IMT
