Number of constructions increase by 21.8 percent

The number of constructions in the region posted a total of 335 in the third quarter of 2021. This represents an increase of 21.8 percent from the 275 total constructions in the same quarter of 2020.

By type of construction, residential building reported the highest number of constructions during the quarter at 221 or 66.0 percent of the total. This type of construction increased by 14.5 percent compared with the 193 constructions in the third quarter of 2020. 

Non-residential building constructions was registered at 89, which accounted for 26.6 percent of the total number of constructions. This number was higher by 43.5 percent than the 62 non-residential building constructions reported during the same period of 2020.

Addition, which refers to any new construction that increases the height or area of an existing building/structure, recorded 5 constructions during the quarter, comprising 1.5 percent of the total constructions. The same number of constructions was also reported during the third quarter of 2020. Further, alterations and repairs recorded 20 constructions which accounted for 6.0 percent of the total constructions. This posted an increase of 33.3 percent compared with the 15 constructions recorded in the same quarter of 2020.

Number of constructions highest in Agusan del Norte

Among the provinces in the region, Agusan del Norte reported the highest number of constructions at 214 or 63.9 percent of the total number of constructions in the region (Figure 2). Surigao del Norte ranked second with 84 constructions (25.1 percent). Moreover, Surigao del Sur followed with 21 recorded constructions (6.3 percent). The Province of Dinagat Islands reported the least number of constructions at 16 or 4.8 percent.

Total value of constructions increases by 8.0 percent

In the third quarter of 2021, the total value of constructions was posted at PhP 407.48 million, higher by 8.0 percent compared with the PhP 377.34 million registered in the third quarter of 2020. 

Non-residential building constructions, valued at PhP 241.87 million in the third quarter of 2021, accounted for more than half (59.4 percent) of the total value of constructions in the region. This represents an increase of 0.03 percent compared with the construction value of PhP 241.81 million reported in the same quarter of 2020. 

Value of residential building constructions, amounting to PhP 151.12 million increased by 21.0 percent from the PhP 124.92 million registered in the third quarter of the previous year.

Combined construction values for alteration and repair of existing structures, estimated at PhP 11.39 million (2.8 percent), increased by 31.4 percent from PhP 8.67 million in the same quarter of 2020. On the other hand, construction value for addition to existing structures, amounting to PhP 3.09 million (0.8 percent), increased by 58.6 percent from PhP 1.95 million posted in the same period of 2020.

Agusan del Norte contributes 57.1 percent of the total value of constructions

In terms of construction value, Agusan del Norte posted the highest value of building constructions at PhP 232.51 million. It accounted for 57.1 percent of the region’s total construction value for the third quarter of 2021. It was followed by Surigao del Norte with PhP 113.85 million (27.9 percent). The Province of Dinagat Islands reported the lowest value of PhP 10.10 million in building constructions (2.5 percent).

Reported total floor area of constructions expands

The total floor area of construction for the third quarter of 2021 was posted at 51.85 thousand square meters, 37.5 percent higher compared to the 37.70 thousand square meters in the same quarter of 2020. 

Residential constructions recorded 18.40 thousand square meters or 35.5 percent of the total floor area of constructions in the third quarter of 2021. Likewise,            non-residential constructions, which accounted for 32.98 thousand square meters or 63.6 percent of the total floor area of constructions, exhibited an increase of 55.3 percent from 21.23 thousand square meters in the same quarter of 2020.

Further, total floor area of addition to the existing structures increased by 60.3 percent with 473 square meters in the third quarter of 2021 from 295 square meters in same quarter of 2020. (Table 1)

Average cost of construction expands

The total average cost of construction in the third quarter of 2021 was PhP 7,859 per square meter. It decreased by -21.5 percent from PhP 10,009 per square meter in the same quarter of 2020. 

Non-residential building constructions for the third quarter of 2021 had an average cost of PhP 7,334 per square meter with an average floor area of 371 square meters per building. This average cost recorded a decrease of -35.6 percent from the        PhP 11,388 per square meter average cost posted in the same quarter of 2020. (Table 1)

On the other hand, Residential building constructions posted an average cost of PhP 8,215 per square meter with an average floor area of 83 square meters per building for the third quarter of 2021. This average cost posted an increase of 6.3 percent from the PhP 7,725 per square meter average cost recorded in the same quarter of 2020. (Table 1)

TECHNICAL NOTES

Introduction

This Special Release presents the preliminary data on construction statistics from approved building permits for the third quarter of 2021. Data are presented in quarterly statistical tables at the regional and provincial level by type of construction.

Scope and Coverage

Construction statistics presented in this special release are based on approved building permits on new constructions and additions, alterations and repairs of existing residential and non-residential buildings, and other structures which are proposed to be constructed in the different cities/municipalities of the country.

Sources of Information

Construction statistics are generated from approved building permits as well as from the demolition and fencing permits collected every month by PSA field personnel from the Offices of Local Building Officials (LBOs).

Limitations of data

1. Data on building constructions are based from approved applications for construction during the reference period and not on the construction work completed during the reference period.

1. The completeness of construction data relies on the approved applications filed with the LBOs. Hence, building constructions without approved building permits are excluded in the tabulation of data.

Geographic Classification 

For the second quarter of 2021, building constructions are classified and presented by geographic area using the Philippine Standard Geographic Classification (PSGC) as of December 2020.

Statistics Generated

Construction statistics generated from approved building permits provide monthly data on building construction at the regional and provincial level. The statistics generated are the number, floor area, type of construction, and value of construction.

Aside from the preliminary tables posted in the PSA website, the annual, quarterly and monthly statistical tables at the municipality level by type of construction are available at the Industry Statistics Division (ISD) under the Economic Sector Statistics Service (ESSS) of the PSA.

Definition of Terms (Adopted from the Revised and Updated IRR of the National Building Code)

Building permit is a written authorization granted by the LBO to an applicant allowing him/her 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 refers to 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 all on-site work done from site preparation, excavation, foundation, assembly of all the components and installation of utilities, machineries 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, 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, etc.

Duplex house 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 construction consists 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 buildings refer to 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 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 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 used to house livestock, 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.

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

Renovation is any physical change made on structures to increase their value and quality.

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

Conversion is a change in the use or occupancy of structure or any portion thereof, which has different requirements.

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

Approved by: 

(Sgd.)ROSALINDA C. APURA, DM

Regional Director, PSA-RSSO XIII

Telephone number: (085) 225-5219 / Telefax No.: (085) 815 – 4935

Email address: psacaraga_rsso13@yahoo.com.ph