President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. assured the public that addressing the housing backlog in the country continues to be one of his administration's top priorities as he renewed his order to relevant government agencies to resolve the issue.

Marcos said this as he led the ceremonial turnover of 1,380 housing units at the St. Gregory Homes Project in Barangay Panghulo, Malabon City, on Monday, March 27.

In his speech, the President said ensuring the success of the government's human settlements and housing projects is a matter close to his heart.

"Isa po sa binibigyan nating ng prayoridad at mabigyan ng solusyon ang napakatinding kakulangan ng pabahay dito sa Pilipinas (We are prioritizing resolving the heavy housing backlog in the Philippines)," he said.

"Kaya naman po hinamon ko ang aking sarili at aking mga kapwa lingkod sa DHSUD (Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development), sa NHA (National Housing Authority), lalung-lalo na ang ating mga LGU (local government units) na matagunan ang mga pangangailangan na pabahay sa loob ng aking termino bilang Pilipino (That's why my challenged myself and my fellow public officials at the DHSUD, NHA, and the LGUs to address the lack of housing during my term)," he added.

The President said no Filipino should be left behind in the journey to progress.

"Aking inaatasan muli ang NHA, DHSUD, at iba pang kaugnay na ahensya ng pamahalaan na magpatuloy sa masusing pagbibigay lunas sa ating suliranin sa pabahay (Once again, I order the NHA, the DHSUD, and other relevant government agencies to continue with their scrupulous ways of addressing our housing problem)," he said.

"Tiyakin na walang sinumang na maaiiwanan at mapapabayaan sa ating sama-samang pagsulong at sama-samang pag-unlad (Make sure that no one will be left behind or ignored in our collective development)," he added.

Marcos likewise asked for the public's support for the government's housing program.

"Naniniwala ako na kaya nating makamit ito kung ang lahat ay magtutulungan, magiging masunurin sa batas, at paiiralin ang bayanihan spirit ng Pilipino (I believe that we can achieve this if we will work together, follow the law, and unite as Filipinos)," he said.

Consisting of 23 five-story buildings, St. Gregory Homes is one of the NHA's in-city housing projects accessible to schools, commercial and institutional facilities, transport terminals, markets, malls, and hospitals.

The housing project serves as a testament to the NHA's commitment to the "Build Better and More" Housing Program, which is at par with the private sector's housing while creating a sustainable community that provides livelihood opportunities for qualified beneficiaries.

The said housing program targets to deliver 1.3 million housing units to informal settler families (ISFs) included in the 6 million housing units under the "Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program" that aims to bridge the country's housing gap.