Approved building permits posts a 13.2 percent growth

1. Approved building permits nationwide registered a total of 25,447 applications during the first quarter of 2004 representing a 13.2 percent growth compared to 22,483 during the same period of 2003.
2. Approved building permits for residential building construction went up by 14.6 percent to 17,820 from 15,545. Those for non-residential building construction similarly increased by 9.9 percent to 2,633 from 2,396. Combined approved building permits for additions, alterations and repairs showed an increase of 10.0 percent to 4,994 from 4,542 applications. Figure 1 compares the number of building permit applications by type of building for the first quarters of 2004 and 2003.

3. Eight areas recorded approved building permits exceeding a thousand mark. These areas are Cebu (1,800), Cavite (1,560), NCR-2nd district (1,376), Bulacan (1,304), Davao del Sur (1,288), Laguna (1,284), Rizal (1,196) and NCR-4th district (1,172). Figure 2 shows the regional distribution of approved building permits for the first quarter of 2004.

Value of construction surges by 22.8 percent to P24.8 billion

4. Total value of construction during the first quarter of 2004 surged by 22.8 percent to P24.8 billion compared to P20.2 billion recorded during the same period of the previous year.
5. Value of construction for residential buildings rose by 22.8 percent to P13.4 billion from P10.9 billion of the same period of 2004. Non-residential building construction, likewise, increased by 18.3 percent to P8.6 billion from P7.3 billion over the same period of previous year. On the other hand, combined value of construction for additions, alterations and repairs rose by 39.5 percent to P2.7 billion from P1.9 billion of the same period of previous year.Figure 3 compares the aggregate value of construction by type of building for the first quarters of 2004 and 2003.

6. Regionwise, value of construction in NCR consistently remained highest at P9.2 billion, accounting for 37.1 percent of the total. CALABARZON, Central Luzon, Central Visayas and Ilocos Region ranked second, third, fourth and fifth with 21.1 percent (P5.3 billion), 11.3 percent (P1.1 billion), 7.1 percent (P1.7 billion) and 4.3 percent (P1.1 billion), respectively, in terms of shares to the total value of construction.

Average cost per square meter of residential building construction is P5,943

7. Total value of residential building construction was estimated at P13.4 billion covering a total floor area of 2.3 million square meters or an average cost per square meter of P5,943. This figure represents an increase of 7.6 percent compared to P5,525 of the same period of the previous year.
8. Single type residential units, comprising of 88.2 percent of total permits for residential construction, topped all other types of residential construction. This type of construction numbered 15,715 approved permits covering a total floor area of 1.8 million square meters and an aggregate value of P9.2 billion. Apartment/accessoria ranked second with 1,307 approved building permits (7.3 percent), floor area of 148.6 thousand square meters and amounting to P718.8 million. This was followed by by other residential construction and duplex/quadruplex with 445 approved building permits (2.5 percent) and 345 approved building permits (1.9 percent), respectively. Residential condominium had the least share with only 8 approved building permits (0.1 percent) covering a floor area of 221.9 thousand square meters and valued at P2.8 billion. Figure 4 shows a comparison of number and value of residential building construction during the first quarters of 2004 and 2003.

Average cost per square meter of non-residential building construction is P6,979

9. Total value for non-residential building construction reached P8.6 billion during the first quarter of 2004 covering a total floor area of 1.2 million square meters. This translates to an average cost of P6,979 per square meter or an increase of 25.6 percent compared to P5,556 of the same period of previous year.
10. About 54.6 percent of the total applications for non-residential buildings were for commercial buildings. This type of building construction numbered 1,437 approved permits with floor area of 514.5 thousand square meters and an estimated value of P3.3 billion. Institutional and industrial buildings registered 499 building permits valued at P2.0 billion and 333 building permits valued at P2.9 billion, respectively. Approved building permits for other non-residential building numbered 279 and valued at P441.5 million while agricultural buildings have only 85 approved permits with an equivalent value of P55.9 million. Figure 5 shows the number and value of non-residential building construction during the first quarter of 2004.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

Scope and Coverage:

Private construction statistics from approved building permits relate to data on new constructions and additions, alterations and repairs of residential and nonresidential buildings and other structures undertaken in all regions/provinces of the country.
 

Source of Information

Data are taken from the original application forms of approved building permits collected by NSO field personnel from local building officials nationwide.
 

Limitations:

1. Data on private building constructions refer to those proposed to be constructed or construction work started during the reference period and not to construction work completed during the reference period.

2. The completeness of the number of building permits collected relies on the applications filed and approved by the Offices of Local Building Officials (LBOs). Hence, private building constructions without approved building permits are not included in the tabulation of data.
 

Definition of Terms:

Building permit  a written authorization granted by the Local Building Official (LBO) to an applicant allowing him to proceed with the construction of a specific project after plans, specifications and other pertinent documents have been found to be in conformity with the National Building Code (PD 1096).

Building  any independent, freestanding structure comprised of one or more rooms or other spaces, covered by a roof and enclosed with external walls or dividing walls, which extend the foundation to the roof.

Residential building  a building for which its major parts or more than half of its gross floor area is built for dwelling purposes. This type of building can be of the single type, duplex, an apartment and/or accessoria and residential condominium.

Single house  a complete structure intended for a single family.

Duplex  a A structure intended for two households, with complete living facilities for each; it is a single structure divided into two dwelling units by a wall extending from the floor to the ceiling.

Apartment  a structure, usually of two storeys, made up of independent living quarters, with independent entrances from internal walls and courts.

Accesoria  a one- or two-floor structure divided into several dwelling units, each dwelling unit having its own separate entrance from the outside.

Residential condominium  A structure, usually of several storeys, consisting of multiple dwelling units.

Other residential constructions  consist of school or company staff houses, living quarters for drivers and maids and guardhouses.

Nonresidential building  this type includes commercial, industrial, agricultural and institutional buildings.

Additions/alterations and repairs  construction works by which the utility of building or structure is raised or at least renewed or which materially extends the normal life of the building or structure.

Demolitions  the systematic dismantling or destruction of a building/structure or in part.

Street furniture  these are street structures consisting of monuments, waiting sheds, benches, plant boxes, lampposts, electric poles and telephone poles.

Floor area of building  the sum of the area of each floor of the building measured to the outer surface of the outer walls including the area of lobbies, cellars, elevator shafts and all communal spaces in multidwellings. Areas of balconies are excluded.

Total value of construction  the sum of the cost of building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and others. The value is derived from the approved building permit and represents the estimated value of the building or structure when completed.

Unpublished Data:

Unpublished data at the municipal level may also be made available upon request from the Industry Statistics Division, National Statistics Office, 4th Floor Solicarel II, Ramon Magsaysay Blvd., Sta. Mesa, Manila, and telephone number 716-39-32.

Source:    National Statistics Office
                  Manila, Philippines