The number of constructions from approved building permits in January 2025 reached 723 This indicates an annual increase of 4 percent from the 695 total number of constructions in the same month of the previous year. The number of constructions in January 2024 increased at annual rate of 6.6 percent. (Table A)

By type of construction, residential buildings reported the highest number with 423 constructions or 58.5 percent of the total number of constructions during the month.  This indicates an annual increase of 2.2 percent from the same month of the previous year’s level of 414 constructions. Majority of the total residential constructions were single - type houses with 388 (91.7%). (Table A, Figure 1)

Meanwhile, non-residential type of constructions at 191 or 26.4 percent of the total number of constructions during the month. This type of construction increased during the period at an annual rate of 1.1 percent. Most of the non-residential constructions were commercial buildings with 129 (67.5%) (Figure 1).

Addition, which refers to any new construction that increases the height or area of an existing building, and alteration and repair of existing structures contributed 15.1 percent. Compared with their respective numbers in the same period of the previous year, addition-type of construction posted 51 number during the month while alteration and repair posted an annual decrease of -36.3 percent (Table A).

Non- residential buildings recorded the highest value of constructions

In January 2025, the total value of constructions amounted to PhP 1,605,188 million, reflecting an annual decrement of -21.2 percent from the PhP 2,037,279 million value of constructions posted in the same month of the previous year. (Table A, Figure 2)

Non- residential building constructions valued at PhP 787,765 thousand accounted for 26.0 percent of the total value of constructions during the period. This indicates increase of 49.1 percent from the PhP 625,261 thousand construction value of non- residential buildings recorded in the same month of 2024. Among non- residential constructions, commercial buildings had the highest value of constructions at PhP 368,173 thousand (46.7%). (Figure 2)

On the other hand, the construction value of residential buildings amounted to PhP766,755 thousand or 47.8 percent of the total construction value in January 2025. This reflects decrement of -43.6 percent from the PhP 1,359,767 million value of constructions of residential buildings reported in the same month of the previous year. 

In January 2025, the value of constructions for addition to, and alteration and repair to existing structures were recorded at PhP17,375 thousand (1.1%) and PhP 33,293 thousand (2.1%), respectively. Compared with their respective values in the same month of the previous year, alteration and repair posted an annual decrease of -30.8 percent from an annual growth rate of -1.5 percent.   

Non- residential buildings recorded highest total floor area 

The total floor area of constructions for this month was recorded at 146,436 thousand square meters. This corresponds to an annual decrease of -3.7 percent from the recorded 151,997 thousand square meter floor area in the same period of the previous year.  (Table A, Figure 3)

Non- residential constructions posted 76,075 thousand square meters or 52.0 percent of the total floor area of constructions this period. This reflects an annual decrement of 26.6 percent from the floor area of 60,096 thousand square meters in the same month of 2024.
 

Meanwhile, residential constructions recorded 68,442 thousand square meters or 46.7 percent of the total floor area of constructions in January 2025. It decreased at an annual rate of -25.1 percent from the previous year’s same month floor area of 91,351 thousand square meters. 

Residential buildings had the highest average cost of constructions

The average cost of construction in January 2025, excluding those for alteration and repair, and other non-residential was recorded at PhP10,703 per square meter. This was -18.1 percent lower than the average cost of PhP13,073.20 per square meter in 2024 (Table A).

By type of construction, residential buildings had the highest average cost of PhP11,202.99 per square meter during the month. This was followed by non-residential constructions with PhP10,294.76 per square meter, and addition to existing constructions with PhP 9,054.30 per square meter. 

Among residential constructions, single house building posted the highest average cost of PhP 11,857.37 per square meter during the period, while duplex/quadruplex recorded the lowest average cost of PhP5,557.94, per square meter. (Figure 4A)

Across non- residential constructions, commercial building reported the highest average cost of PhP 11,566.48 per square meter. On the other hand, agricultural building registered the lowest average cost of PhP 2,581.50 per square meter. (Figure 4B)