The total number of constructions authorized by approved building permits saw a 2.-percent decline in August 2025 to 14,340 from 14,627 recorded in the same month of 2024.
This follows an even steeper annual decline of 7.5 percent in July 2025.
Despite the dip in permit numbers, the total value of constructions surged by 14.2 percent year-on-year, amounting to P58.66 billion in August 2025, up from P51.38 billion in August 2024.
Non-residential building construction was the primary driver of the increase in value, recording P28.16 billion, which accounted for almost half (48.0 percent) of the total construction value for the month.
This marks a substantial annual increase of 41.8 percent from the P19.86 billion value in August 2024. Commercial buildings led this category with a value of P14.30 billion (50.8 percent).
Data showed that in terms of the number of permits, residential buildings still accounted for the highest number of constructions at 9,820, or more than two-thirds of the total. This category, however, posted a modest annual increase of 5.3 percent.
Single-type houses made up the majority of residential constructions with 7,516 permits (76.5 percent).
The construction value of residential buildings experienced an annual decline of 13.3 percent, falling to P18.96 billion (32.3 percent of the total value) from P21.86 billion a year prior.
Non-residential constructions had the second-highest number of permits at 2,849 (almost one-fifth of the total), but this number dropped sharply at an annual rate of 13.4 percent. Commercial buildings were the most common in this category with 1,918 constructions (67.3 percent).
Other types of construction—including addition, alteration, repair and other constructions—contributed a combined 14.4 percent to the total number of permits.
Additions and alterations/repairs recorded significant annual decreases in permit numbers, 28.0 percent and 18.0 percent, respectively. However, alteration and repair and other constructions posted annual increases in construction value of 29.4 percent and 63.5 percent, respectively.
In terms of floor area, non-residential constructions accounted for the majority, with 2.47 million square meters (60.8 percent) of the 4.07 million square meters total floor area recorded for the month.
The overall average cost of construction was recorded at P11,687.13 per square meter, a 4.7 percent decrease from August 2024.
Residential buildings had the highest average cost at P12,231.94 per square meter.
