The Philippine Bureau of Statistics said in a report that approved building permits received a 1.1% permit permit in May due to moderate growth in residential construction projects.
Preliminary data show that the May 16,105-year licenses covered by the building projects covered by 16,282 permits.
This is slightly higher than the 0.6% increase in May 2024 and the revised decline in April 8.2%.
In May, the construction project covered 3.22 million square meters (square meter) of floor area, a year-on-year decrease of 17.8%.
The approved construction projects are worth pesos 4.29 billion, 22.7% lower than the same period last year.
Emmanuel J. Lopez, a lecturer at the University of St. Thomas Graduate School, said in an email that the increase in construction indicates growth in economic activity.
“Specifically, the positive increase in investment spending ultimately leads to an increase in employment, which increases the promotion of investment,” he said.
Permits for residential projects accounted for nearly 70% of the total, up 10.4% in May to 11,331.
The projects are worth P21.25 billion, down from P25.67 billion a year ago.
Applications for apartment buildings climbed 31.7% to 1,397, while applications for double- or quad-chain houses almost tripled to 250.
Single homes, which account for 85.3% of the residential category, rose 6.3% year-on-year to 9,664.
On the other hand, non-residential projects fell 14.9% year to 3,443 permits in May 2024. This accounts for 18% of the total.
The value of non-residential projects representing permits was Pes 16.8 billion, down 23.2% from the same period last year.
Meanwhile, 14.5% of approved commercial building applications signed between 1,994. These account for 68.1% of all non-residential projects.
Institutional construction allowed to fall 23.9% to 488, while industrial licenses rose 0.8% to 264.
In May, approved agricultural projects fell 20.7% to 96, while other non-residential projects received 2.3% to 88.
The increased permit or building permit for existing building height or area decreased by 17.3% to 546 approvals.
On the other hand, the change and repair permits totaled 1,086 in May 2025, 17.6% lower than the same period last year, with a value of 2.61 billion P2.61 billion.
Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon have the largest number of construction projects in May 2025, accounting for 25% of the total 4,063 licenses.
Next is Central Luzon (20.2% share of 3,290 licenses) and Ilokos (8.8% share of 1,425 licenses).
Mr Lopez said the increase in employment will lead to increased consumption spending, a major component of the country’s economic growth. – Abigail Marie P. Yraola
