Construction projects reach 24,400 in the first quarter

Approved building permits in the first quarter of 2013 totaled to 24,400. Of the total new construction projects, 17,502 or 71.7 percent were residential-type building, 3,034 or 12.4 percent were non-residential constructions and the remaining 3,864 or 15.8 percent were additions, alterations and repair of existing structures. Figure 1 shows the distribution of construction projects by type for the first quarter of 2013.

Among regions, the highest number of construction projects were located in CALABARZON (Region IVA) with 6,425 accounting for 26.3 percent of the total. This is followed by National Capital Region (NCR) with 3,320, (13.6%) and Central Luzon (Region III) with 2,482, (10.2%). Figure 2 shows the distribution of new construction projects by region.

Total value of construction amounts to PHP58.6 billion

Total value of construction from approved building permits for the first quarter of 2013 was recorded at PHP58.6 billion.

By type of construction projects, value of residential amounted to PHP28.5 billion, while non-residential construction buildings was valued at PHP25.3 billion for the first quarter of 2013.

Combined value of constructions for additions, alterations and repairs of existing structures was estimated at PHP4.8 billion. Figure 3 displays the aggregate value of construction by type for the first quarter of 2013.

Among regions, value of construction for NCR was the highest at PHP22.3 billion, accounting for 38.0 percent share of the total. Davao and CALABARZON ranked a far second and third with respective shares of PHP11.4 billion or 19.5 percent and PHP8.3 billion or 14.1 percent.

 Average cost per square meter of residential buildings is PHP9,709

Total value of construction from approved building permits for residential buildings was estimated at PHP28.5 billion with a total floor area of 2.9 million square meters, translating to an average cost of PHP9,709 per square meter.

Among the residential constructions, single-type recorded the most number of projects with 15,520 accounting for 88.7 percent of the total. Total value of construction for this type reached PHP13.6 billion covering a total floor area of 1.6 million square meters, translating to an average cost of PHP8,555 per square meter.

Apartment/accessoria-type ranked a far second with 1,674 construction projects representing 9.6 percent of total residential construction. This type of residential building had an estimated construction value of PHP4.3 billion with a total floor area of 536.3 thousand square meters or an average cost of PHP7,982 per square meter.

Duplex-type building recorded a total of 209 construction projects or a mere 1.2 percent of the total residential construction. Total construction value for this type amounted to PHP359.4 million and a total floor area of 40.7 thousand square meters or an average cost of PHP8,839 per square meter. Figure 4 displays the percentage distribution of the number and value of residential construction by type for the first quarter of 2013.

Commercial-type building dominates non-residential construction projects

Value of non-residential construction projects from approved building permits for the first quarter of 2013 amounted to PHP25.3 billion pesos with a total floor area of 1.7 million square meters. This translates to an average cost of PHP14,797 per square meter

Commercial-type building dominated all other types of non-residential construction with 1,650 projects or 54.4 percent of the total. Total value of construction for this type was estimated at PHP12.5 billion covering a total floor area of 951.5 thousand square meters or an average cost of PHP13,117 per square meter.   

Institutional building construction ranked a far second with 695 construction projects (22.9%), construction value of PHP4.2 billion and a total floor area of 407.5 thousand square meters or an average cost of PHP10,370 per square meter.

Industrial-type building followed next with 316 construction projects (10.4%). Total value of construction for this type amounted to PHP7.8 billion with a total floor area of 275.9 thousand square meters. This expresses to an average cost of PHP28,270 per square meter.

The least number of non-residential construction was reported for agricultural-type with 117 or 3.9 percent of the total. Construction value was estimated at PHP244.3 million covering a total floor area of 72.1 thousand square meters, translating to an average cost of PHP3,388 per square meter. Figure 5 shows the number and value of non-residential construction by type for the first quarter of 2013.

TECHNICAL NOTES

CONSTRUCTION STATISTICS FROM APPROVED BUILDING PERMITS

Beginning with the first quarter of 2013, quarterly construction statistics from approved building permits will be released earlier, that is, 60 days after the reference quarter instead of 90 days. Because of the changes in the release calendar, only data for the first quarter of 2013 is presented in this Special Release.

Private construction statistics from approved building permits relate to data on new constructions and additions, alterations and repairs of existing residential and non-residential buildings and other structures undertaken in all cities/municipalities of the country in a specific period.

For this publication, data for the provinces of Basilan (excluding Isabela City), Lanao del Sur, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, all from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are not included in the tabulation as these provinces did not submit building permit documents and certification of no construction before the generation of preliminary tables. However, if any, these are to be included in the annual tabulation.

Source of Information 

Construction statistics are compiled by the National Statistics Office (NSO) from the copies of original application forms of approved building permits as well as from the demolition permits collected every month by NSO field personnel from the Offices of Local Building Officials (LBOs) nationwide. 

Limitations: 

1. Data on private building constructions refer to those proposed to be constructed 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 approval of applications filed with the Office of Local Building Officials (LBOs). Hence, private building constructions without approved building permits are excluded in the tabulation of data.

Geographic Classification

Private building constructions are classified and presented by geographic area using the Philippine Standard Geographic Classification (PSGC). The PSGC contains the latest updates on the official number of regions, provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays in the Philippines. It consists of 17 administrative regions as approved under Executive Order No. 36 dated 19 September 2001 (Providing for the Reorganization of the Administrative Regions in Mindanao) and Executive Order No. 103 dated 17 May 2002 (Dividing Region IV into Region IV-A and Region IV-B, transferring the province of Aurora to Region III).

The geographic codes are in accordance with NSCB Resolution No. 3, Series of 2005 that approved the PSGC.

Industry Classification

Private building construction statistics utilizes the amended 1994 Philippine Standard Industrial Classification (PSIC) to classify the main activity through the use or type of occupancy of the building. 

Definition of Terms

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

Construction refers to on-site work done from site preparation, excavation, foundation, assembly of all the components and installation of utilities and equipment of buildings/structures.

Residential Building is 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 is a complete structure intended for a single family or household, i.e. bungalow, 2-storey house, nipa hut.

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

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

Residential Condominium is 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.

Non-Residential Building includes commercial, industrial, agricultural and institutional buildings.

Commercial Building includes office buildings and all buildings which are intended for use primarily in wholesale, retail and service trades; i.e. stores, hotels, restaurants, banks, disco houses, etc.

Industrial Buildings are buildings which are used to house the production, assembly and warehousing activities of industrial establishments; i.e. factories, plants, mills, repair shops, machine shops, printing press, storage plant, electric generating plants.

Institutional Buildings are buildings which are primarily engaged in providing educational instructions and hospital/health care; ports, airports and other government buildings; i.e. school, museums, libraries, sanitaria, churches, hospitals.

Agricultural Buildings are buildings which are used to house livestocks, plants and agricultural products such as barn, poultry house, piggeries, stables, greenhouses and grain mill.

Other Non-Building Constructions include cemetery structures, street furniture, waiting sheds, communication towers, etc.

Addition refers to any new construction which increases the height or area of an existing building/structure.

Alteration refers to construction in a structure involving changes in the materials used, partitioning, location/size of openings, structural parts, existing utilities and equipment but does not increase the overall area thereof.

Repair refers to remedial work done on any damaged or deteriorated portion/s of a structure to restore its original condition.

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

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

Floor Area of Building refers to 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 multi-dwellings. Areas of balconies are excluded.

Total Value of Construction refers to 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.