President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. attended the inauguration of the San Lazaro Residences, a socialized vertical housing project in Sta. Cruz, Manila, on Thursday, praising the city government for its speed and comprehensive approach to housing development.

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso toured Marcos through the 20-story building, an initiative of the local government located at Alvarez and Quiricada Streets, built to house nearly 400 families.

“What we have done here, here in your San Lazaro housing, is very beautiful,” Marcos said. “In all the housing we have done in the national government, we always say that it is not enough to just build a house or provide a unit. Human life is not just about housing, but also near the services.”

The President suggested that Domagoso should lead the national housing agencies, including the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

“It’s just a dream for us at NHA and then at DHSUD to be that fast. We need to teach you how to do that. You be in charge there so that our housing can be built quickly,” Marcos told the mayor.

The P1.9 billion project is offered to marginalized Manila residents and government workers at Salary Grade 8 and below. The building features 382 units, each with two bedrooms, a living and dining area, a kitchen, and a toilet and bath.

Monthly contributions for qualified tenants are set at P2,000 for minimum wage earners and government workers at Salary Grade 8 and below. Workers with Salary Grades 9 to 18 pay P3,000 monthly.

Marcos commended the city for the speedy construction, emphasizing that good coordination between national and local governments benefits the public.

“Even though this is not a national government project, I want to show all the people that this is what we can do,” he said. “As long as there is good communication, as long as there is good coordination between the national and local governments, we can do a lot.”

The San Lazaro Residences incorporates various amenities, including the Manila Public Health Laboratory, a swimming pool, a function room, an outdoor activity area, and commercial spaces.

It adds to Manila’s completed in-city vertical housing portfolio, which includes Tondominium 1 and 2, Binondominium 1, Pedro Gil Residences, and San Sebastian Residences. The city government is also proposing Binondominium Projects 2 and 3 and the Bureau of Plant Industry in-city vertical housing.