The number of approved building permits in the Philippines rose 3.4 percent year-on-year to 14,973 in March 2025, following a 0.7 percent decline in February, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Tuesday.
Residential buildings accounted for the majority of constructions in March, totaling 9,426 or 63.0 percent of the total, although this was a 0.2 percent lower than 9,448 in March 2024. Single-type houses made up 87.8 percent of residential constructions, with 8,272 units.
Non-residential constructions reached 3,329, or 22.2 percent of the total, marking a 2.1-percent increase in March. Commercial buildings were the largest sub-segment, with 2,321 constructions, or 69.7 percent of non-residential builds.
“Additions” (new constructions increasing height or area), “alterations and repairs,” and “other constructions” contributed 3.9 percent, 8.0 percent, and 2.9 percent to the total number of constructions, respectively. These categories saw significant annual increases of 35.9 percent, 17.6 percent, and 36.9 percent, respectively, the PSA noted.
The total value of constructions in March amounted to P47.50 billion, a 20.9 percent increase from P39.30 billion a year earlier.
Non-residential buildings comprised the largest share of construction value at P22.48 billion, up 25.7 percent from P17.89 billion in March 2024. Institutional-type buildings had the highest value within this category, at P10.20 billion (45.4 percent).
Residential buildings accounted for P17.88 billion (37.7 percent of the total value), showing a 3.0 percent annual increase from P17.37 billion. Single-type buildings again led this category with P12.91 billion in value (72.2 percent).
The total floor area of constructions in March 2025 was 3.59 million square meters, a 13.9 percent increase from 3.16 million square meters a year prior.
Non-residential constructions made up 2.02 million square meters (56.3 percent of the total floor area), reflecting a 22.8 percent annual increase from 1.65 million square meters in March 2024.
Residential constructions recorded 1.52 million square meters (42.3 percent of the total floor area), up at an annual rate of 3.1 percent from the previous year.
