Building permit applications nationwide summed up to 19,178 during the third quarter of 2002, representing an increase of 18.9 percent compared with 16,129 applications received during the same period of 2001.

An increase in applications for all types of building construction was observed during this period. Applications for residential building construction increased by 21.5 percent to 12,916 from 10,628. Nonresidential building constructions went up by 16.4 percent to 2,322 from 1,994. Combined applications for additions, alterations and repairs likewise increased by 12.3 percent to 3,940 from 3,507 applications. Figure 1 compares the number of building permit applications by type of building for the third quarter of 2002 and 2001.

Among the provinces in the country, four (4) provinces recorded building permit applications exceeding a thousand mark namely: Cavite (1,747), Cebu (1,113), Rizal (1,109) and Laguna (1,015). Figure 2 shows the regional distribution of building permit applications for the third quarter of 2002.

Value of construction posts 15.2 percent increase

The aggregate value of construction during the third quarter of 2002 was estimated at P15.1 billion, indicating an increase of 15.2 percent from P13.1 billion recorded during the same period of 2001.

Value of construction for residential buildings increased by 20.4 percent to P7.4 billion from P6.2 billion while that for nonresidential buildings went up by 9.6 percent to P5.9 billion from P5.4 billion during the same period of last year. Similarly, combined value for additions, alterations and repairs also went up by 14.2 percent to P1.8 billion from P1.6 billion during the same period of 2001. Figure 3 compares the aggregate value of construction by type of building for the third quarter of 2002 and 2001.

Regionwise, value of construction in National Capital Region (NCR) remained highest at P4.5 billion, accounting for 29.9 percent share of the total. Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon consistently remained second and third placer, with P4.4 billion (29.3 percent) and P1.3 billion (8.3 percent) in terms of share to the total value of construction, respectively.

Average cost per square meter of residential building construction is P5,157

Total value for residential building construction was estimated at P7.4 billion with a total floor area of 1.4 million square meters. The average cost per square meter of P5,157 reflected an 8.0 percent increase compared to the same period of last year.

More than three-quarters or 87.6 percent of the total applications for residential building was for single type residential unit with 11,320 applications and aggregate value of P6.4 billion. Moreover, apartment/accessoria ranked second with 813 applications amounting to P467.2 million. This was followed by ‘other residential construction’ numbering 427 applications or 3.3 percent share of the total. Figure 4 shows the comparison of number and value by type of residential building construction during the third quarter of 2002.

Average cost per square meter of nonresidential building construction is P5,950

Total value for nonresidential building construction amounted to P5.9 billion during the third quarter of 2002 with a floor area of 986 thousand square meters. This is translated to an average cost of P5,950 per square meter or a slight increase of 0.9 percent as compared to the same period of last year.

Commercial type of building constituted more than half of the total nonresidential building constructions. It reached total applications of 1,217 or 52.4 percent of the total nonresidential building, valued at P3.3 billion. Institutional and industrial buildings registered 578 applications valued at P1.5 billion and 268 applications valued at P624.5 million, respectively. Figure 5 shows the number and value of nonresidential building construction during the third quarter of 2002.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

Scope and Coverage

Private construction statistics from approved building permits relate to data on new constructions and additions, alterations and repairs of residential and nonresidential buildings and other structures undertaken in all regions/provinces of the country.

Sources of Information

Data is taken from the original application forms of approved building permits collected by NSO field personnel from local building officials nationwide

Limitations

1. Data on private building constructions refer to those proposed to be constructed during the reference period and not to construction work completed during the reference period.

2. The completeness of the number of building permits collected relies on the collection of applications filed with the offices of local building officials.

Definition of Terms

Building Permit – A written authorization granted by the Local Building Official (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 – 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 form the foundation to the roof.

Residential building – 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, an apartment and/or accessoria.

Single house – A complete structure intended for a single family

Duplex – 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 – A structure, usually of several storeys, made up of independent living quarters, with independent entrances from internal walls and courts.

Accesoria – A one or two-floor structure divided into several dwelling units, each dwelling unit having its own separate entrance from outside.

Nonresidential building – This type includes commercial, industrial, agricultural and institutional buildings.

Additions/alterations and repairs – Construction works by which the utility of building or structure is raised or at least renewed or which materially extends the normal life of the building or structure.

Floor area of building – 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 – The total cost per square meter of floor area of the building based on group classifications. This value is derived from the approved building permit and represents the estimated value of the building or structure when completed.

Other residential constructions– consist of school or company staff houses, living quarters for drivers and maids and guardhouses.

Unpublished Data

Unpublished data at the municipal level may also be made available upon request from the Industry Statistics Division, National Statistics Office, 4th Floor Solicarel Building II Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard Sta. Mesa, Manila, Tel. No. 716-39-32