Approved building permits nationwide reached 22,483 during the first quarter of 2003. This represents a contraction of 7.6 percent from 24,337 approved building permits recorded during the same period of 2002.

Approved permits for residential building construction declined by 9.5 percent to 15,545 from 17,025. Those for nonresidential construction went down by 21.3 percent to 2,396 from 3,045. On the other hand, combined approved building permits for additions, alterations and repairs posted a growth of 6.4 percent to 4,542 from 4,267. Figure 1 compares the number of approved building permits by type of building for the first quarters of 2003 and 2002.

For areas outside the National Capital Region (NCR), four provinces recorded approved building permits exceeding a thousand mark. These were Cavite ( 1,196 ), Cebu ( 2,010 ), Davao del Norte ( 1,019 ) and Davao del Sur ( 1,350 ). Figure 2 shows the regional distribution of approved building permits for the first quarter of 2003. ( Table 1 ).

Value of construction for residential buildings posts a 20.6 percent growth

Total value of construction during the first quarter of 2003 decreased remarkably by 40.0 percent reaching P 20.2 billion from P 33.7 billion registered during the same period of last year.

Value of construction for residential buildings modestly went up by 20.6 percent to P 10.9 billion from P 9.1 billion during the same quarter of 2002. On the other hand, value of construction for nonresidential buildings was P 7.3 billion, shrinking tremendously by 66.9 percent from P 22.1 billion. Combined value for additions, alterations and repairs also declined by 22.4 percent to P 1.9 billion from P 2.5 billion during the same period of last year. Figure 3 compares the aggregate value of construction by type of building for the first quarters of 2003 and 2002. (Table A).

By region, value of construction in the National Capital Region ( NCR ) consistently remained highest at P 8.7 billion, accounting for 42.9 percent share of the total. Southern Tagalog, Central Luzon, and Central Visayas ranked second, third and fourth with 20.3 percent ( P 4.1 billion ), 8.8 percent ( P 1.8 billion ) and 6.9 percent ( P 1.4 billion ), respectively, in terms of share to the total value of construction.

Average cost per square meter of residential building construction is P 5,525.

The total value of residential building construction was estimated at P 10.9 billion with a total floor area of 2.0 million square meters or an average cost per square meter of P 5,525. This average cost increased by 7.7 percent from the average cost estimated during the first quarter of 2002.

There were 13,981 approved building permits for single type residential unit, topping all other types of residential construction. This comprised 89.9 percent of the total residential building with a total floor area of 1.6 million square meters and an aggregate value of P 7.9 billion. ‘ Other residential building ‘ construction, which consisted of school and company staff houses, living quarters for drivers and maids and guard houses, ranked second with 741 approved building permits or 4.8 percent share of the total. Apartment/accessoria and duplex/quadruplex numbered 428 approved building permits ( 2.8 percent ) and 393 approved building permits ( 2.5 percent ), respectively. Figure 4 compares the number and value by type of residential building construction during the first quarter of 2003.(Table 2).

Average cost per square meter of nonresidential building construction is P 5,556.

The aggregate value for nonresidential building construction was recorded at P 7.3 billion with total floor area of 1.3 million square meters. This translates to an average cost of P 5,556 per square meter.

Approved permits for commercial type of building, numbering 1,432, accounted for 59.8 percent of the total for nonresidential building construction. Estimated value of construction was P 4.8 billion. Institutional and industrial buildings recorded 451 approved building permits valued at P 1.4 billion and 277 approved building permits valued at P 921.0 million, respectively. Approved building permits for agricultural buildings numbered 54 with an equivalent total value of P 58.6 million. Figure 5 shows the number, value and type of nonresidential construction during the first quarter of 2003. ( Table 3 ).

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 are 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 or construction work started 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 applications filed and approved by the Offices of Local Building Officials (LBOs). Hence, private building constructions without approved building permits are not included in the tabulation of data.

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, and residential condominium.

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 two 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 the outside.

Residential condominium – A structure, usually of several storeys, consisting of multiple dwelling units.

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

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.

Demolitions – The systematic dismantling or destruction of a building/structure or in part.

Street furniture – These are street structures consisting of monuments, waiting sheds, benches, plant boxes, lamposts, electric poles, and telephone poles.

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 multidwellings. Areas of balconies are excluded.

Total value of construction – 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.

Unpublished Data:

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