The University of the Philippines (UP) on Friday denied ordering the demolition of homes inside its flagship Diliman campus, saying that a confrontation earlier this week was sparked by preparatory work for a housing project that will not displace residents.

This clarification came two days after tensions flared in Barangay UP Campus, where Pook Malantic residents and police confronted each other over what community members believed was the start of an eviction drive.

In a statement, university officials said no demolition had been ordered or scheduled for Wednesday.

Instead, UP said the contractor, Megawide Construction Corp., was installing perimeter fencing for temporary transition housing. The contractor was engaged by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

The temporary units will accommodate families while permanent rental units are constructed.

According to UP, at least 26 informal settler families expected to be directly affected by the construction will first be moved to the on-site transition housing.

Low-cost rental units will then be built later this year under the government’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program.

UP said the arrangement ensures that no family will be relocated outside the campus.

The project is part of an agreement signed by UP and the housing department in November 2025 to develop rental housing within the Diliman campus for university faculty, non-teaching personnel, and long-time informal settler families.

Last week, the two agencies unveiled a model unit for the Southern Diliman Gardens Rental Housing Project, one of the pilot developments under the national housing program.

UP said the broader project envisions about 2,000 rental housing units to improve living conditions while preserving campus land.

The university also reiterated its lawful ownership of the property, citing Supreme Court rulings affirming its title to the Diliman campus.

Officials referenced a 2016 decision warning against fraudulent land claims that have historically encouraged illegal occupation and unauthorized sales of university land.

“The university has a legal duty to protect and utilize its land for the UP community,” the statement said. Beyond housing, UP said the project includes livelihood training, urban farming initiatives and educational support for beneficiary families.

Residents of Pook Malantic, Pook Aguinaldo, and nearby areas have repeatedly raised concerns over possible displacement, arguing that previous consultations were insufficient and demanding greater transparency regarding relocation plans.

University officials maintained that the developments are intended to upgrade living conditions through on-campus relocation rather than eviction.

UP officials said they were saddened by the confrontation involving residents, private security personnel, and police, acknowledging the “pain and anxiety” the incident caused.

The university said it would continue dialogues with affected communities, noting that previous consultations showed support from many families seeking improved housing.