The Philippines saw a modest rise in construction activity in March 2025, as approved building permits reached 14,973, up 3.4 percent from 14,477 in the same month last year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
While growth in project volume was moderate, the surge in scale and investment was more notable. The total floor area climbed 14 percent year-on-year to 3.59 million square meters, while total construction value jumped 21 percent to P47.50 billion—suggesting a trend toward larger and more capital-intensive developments.
Residential projects continued to dominate, comprising 63 percent of all constructions. However, the segment saw a slight 0.2 percent dip in activity, largely driven by a plateau in single-detached housing. In contrast, non-residential constructions rose 2.1 percent, driven mainly by commercial buildings, which made up nearly 70 percent of the segment.
The most robust growth came from construction additions, alterations, and repairs—rising 36 percent, 18 percent, and 37 percent, respectively. These reflect a growing emphasis on building upgrades and adaptive reuse, particularly in urban areas.
Overall, the data suggest a shifting construction landscape: while new builds remain dominant, expansion and renovation are gaining momentum amid rising costs and changing development needs.
