Construction activity declines in December

Construction activity continued to slow in December 2025, with fewer projects and lower overall value compared to a year earlier.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority say that the total number of construction projects reached 11,411, down 5.9 percent from 12,127 in December 2024. 

Main driver: residential buildings

Residential buildings remained the main driver, accounting for 7,203 projects or more than three-fifths of the total. However, this segment fell by 7.0 percent year on year. Most residential projects were single houses, which comprised 87.6 percent of the category.

Non-residential constructions totaled 2,666, or 23.4 percent of all projects, posting a 3.6 percent annual decline. Commercial buildings made up the majority of non-residential activity.

In value terms, total construction output amounted to P33.62 billion, 13.4 percent lower than the P38.84 billion recorded in the same month last year.

Largest share in total value

Non-residential buildings accounted for the largest share at P17.81 billion, or 53.0 percent of total value, although this was slightly lower than a year ago. Institutional buildings registered the highest value within the segment.

Total floor area reached 2.67 million square meters, down 8.2 percent from 2.91 million square meters in December 2024. 

Non-residential projects comprised 60.2 percent of the total floor area and posted a 2.9 percent increase. In contrast, residential floor area declined by 22.7 percent year on year.

The average construction cost stood at P11,366.71 per square meter, 7.4 percent lower than in December 2024. 

Residential buildings recorded the highest average cost at P11,973.30 per square meter, followed by non-residential projects at P11,044.09 per square meter.