More than a decade has passed since the River Drive project began—an infrastructure venture spearheaded by the Villar family and implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in 2012. Initially conceived as a flood control measure, the project also aimed to provide an alternative route to alleviate traffic along the heavily congested Alabang-Zapote Road in Las Piñas.
Spanning 18.3 kilometers, the Zapote River Drive runs through seven barangays: Pulanglupa Uno, Zapote, Pamplona Uno, Pamplona Dos, Talon Dos, Talon Singko, and Almanza Dos. It begins at Villar City Global South via C5 Extension and provides access to residential villages such as Pamplona Park Subdivision, BF Resort Village (with three entry points), and Moonwalk Village. It crosses Marcos Alvarez Bridge at the boundary between Las Piñas and Bacoor and continues all the way to Villar City Evia along Daang Hari Road.
Observers can’t help but notice the alignment of River Drive with the master-planned districts of Villar City—a 3,500-hectare township touted as the most ambitious development of former Senate President-turned-billionaire Manny Villar.
The project drew public attention in 2018, when the Villar family constructed a bridge inside BF Resort Village in Talon Dos. The bridge connected the Villar Sipag Farm School to the NOMO district of Villar City. Despite opposition from residents, the bridge was approved by Barangay Talon Dos and the then-board of BF Resort Village Homeowners Association Inc.—a group later revealed to be composed mostly of Villar family allies (2018–2022), before being replaced by new officers.
In 2021, another bridge—dubbed the “Dear Joe Bridge” by locals—was also constructed inside BF Resort without prior consultation. This bridge connects to the Villar Children’s Farm, a café and family leisure destination.
The construction of the River Drive continued from C5 Extension to J. Aguilar Avenue (CAA Road). Locals have since commented: “All roads lead to their property,” noting the apparent network of infrastructure linking directly to Villar City’s sprawling development.
Officially, the ₱2.5-billion River Drive project remains under the DPWH’s Flood Control initiative. According to the Las Piñas-Muntinlupa District Engineering Office (LPMDEO), it includes a six-meter-wide service road with retaining walls and slope protection.
However, LPMDEO clarified that River Drive is not a typical thoroughfare meant for heavy vehicular use, as its width is not consistently suitable for two-lane traffic. From 2022 to 2023, police reported 101 road accidents along the River Drive. Between January and August 2024 alone, over 40 more accidents were recorded.
Initially, the River Drive served solely as a service route for DPWH construction and maintenance equipment along the Zapote and Las Piñas Rivers. Eventually, it was opened—but only to private, light four-wheel vehicles—to help relieve urban traffic.
Still, a lingering question remains: Has the River Drive truly fulfilled its flood control promise, or has it evolved into a convenient access road crafted to serve the broader real estate interests of Villar City?