Construction statistics presented in this Special release are based on the approved building permits on new constructions, additions, and alterations and repairs of existing residential and non-residential buildings, and other structures which are proposed to be constructed in different cities/municipalities of the region. Construction statistics from approved building permits aim to provide administrative data on building constructions at the regional level Statistics generated include the number of units/buildings, floor area of the buildings, types of construction, and value of construction.
Baguio City records highest number of residential building constructions
In 2023, the number of approved building permits for residential type of construction in the Cordillera region reached a total of 1,152. These buildings covered a total floor area of 254.7 thousand square meters. The regional value of these constructions was PhP 3.3 billion.
By city/province, Baguio City had the highest number of residential type of construction with 324 buildings. These buildings had a total floor area of 110.0 thousand square meters and valued at PhP 1.5 billion.
The province of Apayao came second with 246 units and covered a floor area of 17.5 thousand square meters. These constructions had a total value of PhP 212.9 million.
The province of Benguet ranked third with 241 approved building permits covering 17.5 thousand square meters, valued at PhP 853.0 million.
Abra and Ifugao had the least constructions for residential buildings with 28 and 29 units, respectively.
Figure 1. Top 3 Provinces and HUC with the Most Number of Approved Permits for Residential Buildings, CAR: 2023
Residential buildings in Baguio City valued at PhP 13.1 thousand per square meters
In terms of the value of residential constructions per floor area, Baguio City had the highest value with PhP 13.1 thousand per square meters. This was followed by Apayao and Benguet both with the same value, both with PhP 12.1 thousand. Kalinga came third with a value of PhP 11.8 thousand per square meters.
Meanwhile, the provinces of Ifugao, Abra and Mountain had per square meter value of PhP 11.3 thousand, PhP 9.0 thousand, and PhP 8.4 thousand.
Most residential constructions are of single type
In 2023, the number of approved building permits for single-type residential buildings in the Cordillera region reached 1,013 units. These had a total floor area of 185.4 thousand square meters. The total value of these single-type residences amounted to PhP 2.5 billion.
Baguio City had the highest number of single-type residential buildings with 254 units which covered a total floor area of 67.2 thousand square meters and was valued at PhP 992.0 million (Table 1).
The province of Apayao came second with 243 single-type residential units covering a total floor area of 16.7 thousand square meters, and a total value of PhP 200.6 million.
Other provinces with more than 200 single-type residential constructions with approved building permits were Kalinga with 214 units and Benguet with 210 units. The single-type houses in Kalinga had a total floor area of 40.4 thousand square meters and were valued at PhP 482.6 million. In Benguet, the single type residential buildings covered a total floor area of 49.4 thousand square meters. These buildings were valued at PhP 684.5 million.
Meanwhile, Mountain Province, Abra and Ifugao had 49, 22, and 21 approved building permits for the construction of single type buildings. The total value of these buildings was PhP 11.7 million.
Table 1. Number of Residential Constructions in the Provinces
by Type, CAR: 2023
Single type constructions have greatest value
In terms of the value of residential constructions by type, single type buildings had the greatest value reaching a total regional value of PhP 2.5 billion in 2023. It was followed by apartment/ accessoria with total value of PhP 32.2 billion. Other residential types had a total value of PhP159.4 million (Figure 2).
Meanwhile, there were no residential condominium constructions proposed in 2023 in the region.
Figure 2. Residential Constructions by Type,
Floor Area, and Value CAR: 2023
Apartment/accessoria residential type building is second highest number of constructions
A total of 110 units of apartment/accessoria were approved for construction in CAR. This type of residential building came second after single type of constructions in terms of the highest number of constructions with approved building permits in 2023 (Figure 2). The total value of the apartment/accessoria type of constructions amounted to PhP 683.5 million.
In 2023, there were 48 apartments/accessoria approved for construction in Baguio City with a total value of PhP 393.3 million, while there were 26 units of apartments valued at PhP 156.3 million for construction in the province of Benguet.
Duplex/quadruplex followed with 27 approved building permits, and a total value of
PhP 105.3 million. These residential type of buildings were in Baguio City (21 units), Benguet (4 units) and Abra (I unit).
(SGD)
VILLAFE P. ALIBUYOG
Regional Director
Technical Notes
Building permit is a written authorization granted by the 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 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 plants, 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., schools, museums, libraries, sanitaria, churches, hospitals.
Agricultural buildings are buildings used to house livestock, plants, and agricultural products such as barns, poultry houses, piggeries, stables, greenhouses, and grain mills.
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.
