Malacañang Palace on Monday admitted that there is a housing backlog for its ambitious Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program, but said it is now working double-time to hit the 1.5 to 3 million housing unit targets to be given away during the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“Totoo, inaamin naman po ang pagkakaroon ng backlog, pero pinagpupursigehan naman po ng pamahalaan na maibigay po ang pinakamaraming housing units para sa ating mga kababayan,” said Palace press officer, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro during a Palace briefing on Monday.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., during the awarding of new homes under the Expanded 4PH Program held at the Megawide Precast Plant in Taytay, Rizal, said over 423,000 housing units have been built or financed from January 2022 to date under his flagship housing program.

The President emphasized that the government is accelerating construction while strengthening mechanisms to make it easier to acquire homes.

By implementing reforms that lowered interest rates on housing loans, more Pag-IBIG Fund members have benefited from its programs.

With the help of government subsidies, he said more families now have the opportunity to own a home.

"At hindi po kami titigil dito," said President Marcos, adding that his visit to the Megawide precast plant is a step towards building homes using modern technology.

"Gagawin po namin lahat ng aming kakayahan upang hindi lamang itong plantang itong nakikita ninyo ngayon kung hindi madagdagan pa at maparami pa upang mapabilis ang konstruksyon at maparami ang aming maibibigay na tahanan," added the President.

Marking the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development’s 7th anniversary, President Marcos reaffirmed his commitment to give Filipinos access to safe, decent, and affordable housing.

"Kaya patuloy na magtutulungan ang pamahalaan at pribadong sektor upang pabilisin ang produksyon, ayusin ang proseso, at palawakin ang saklaw ng ating mga programa, lalo na ang Expanded 4PH Program. Habang may Pilipinong nangangarap ng sariling tahanan, patuloy na kikilos ang pamahalaan upang suportahan ang pangarap na ito."

Also, during the event, President Marcos led the turnover of symbolic keys for vertical and horizontal housing units.

The Chief Executive also awarded Certificates of Lot Award and financial assistance to beneficiaries for land and site development under the Enhanced Community Mortgage Program.

The President awarded Certificates of Entitlement to beneficiaries of longstanding Presidential Proclamations, finally granting them security of tenure on the land they have occupied after decades of waiting.