The total number of new construction projects from approved building permits during the second quarter of 2019 was recorded at 515, reflecting adecrease of 6.36 percent from 550 constructions in the same quarter of 2018.

The total floor area ofnew building constructions also decreased by 13.58 percent. That is, from 80,490 square meters in thesecond quarter of2018 to 69,559 square meters in the same period of 2019. Moreover, the total value of new building constructionswas recorded at PhP693.25million in the second quarterof 2019, posting a decrease of 7.89 percent from the total value of PhP752.62 million in the same quarter a year ago.

Residential buildings recorded the highest number of constructions during the second quarter of 2019 with a total of 366 constructions. This figure posted a decrease of 12.23 percent from the 417 residential buildings reported in the same quarter of 2018.Moreover, there were 34 permits issued during the second quarter of 2019 for purposes of either addition, repair, renovation or demolition of existing buildings. The same number of permits was issued for similar purposes during the second quarter of 2018.

Meanwhile, non-residential building constructions went up by 16.16percent. That is, 115constructions for the second quarter of 2019 from 99 constructions during the same period of 2018.

Value of building construction projects reaches PhP693.25Million

By type of construction, residential buildings accounted the highest share in terms of value in the second quarter of 2019. The cost of constructing residential buildings decreased by 6.54 percent withan estimated value of PhP449.84million from PhP481.30million during the second quarter of last year.

Moreover,the value of constructing non-residential buildings also decreased by 17.40 percent during the second quarter of 2019 amounting to PhP208.63million from PhP252.57million in same quarter a year ago.

On the other hand, the value of addition, repair, renovation and demolition of existing buildings increased to PhP34.79million in thesecond quarter of 2019 from PhP18.75 million in the same period of last year, or anincrease of 85.53 percent.

Average cost per square meter of a residential building construction is PhP9,568.05

The total value of all residential building constructions within the province reached PhP449.84million with a total floor area of 47,015 square meters. This translates to an average cost of PhP9,568.05 per square meter.

Single-type residential unitscomprised97.27 percent of the total residential building constructions. There were 356 single-type residential unitserected covering a total floor area of 43,748 square meters withan aggregate value of PhP414.312 million. This translates to an average cost of PhP9,470.42 per square meter.

There were nine constructions of apartment and accessoria comprising2.46 percent of the total residential building constructions during the quarter. Such constructions had an estimatedtotal value of PhP34.68 million with a total floor area of 3,129 square meters or an average cost of PhP11,083.41 per square meter.

One duplex or quadruplex type of residential building wasconstructed or 0.27 percent of the total residential building constructions in the province during the second quarter of 2019 with a floor area of 138 square meters and an aggregated value of PhP850 thousand. This translates to an average cost of PhP6,159.42 per square meter.

Average cost per square meter of a non-residential buildingconstruction is PhP10,372.24

The total value of all non-residential building constructions in La Union was estimated at PhP208.63 million with a total floor area of 20,114 square meters. The computed average cost per square meter was PhP10,372.24.

Commercial-typeof buildingshowed the biggest share from the totalnon-residential building constructions in the province. There were82 construction projects or 71.30 percent of the total non-residential constructions. The total value for the commercial-type was estimated at PhP162.75 millionwhich covered the floor area of 14,214 square meters, or an average cost of PhP11.450.07 per square meter.

Institutional-type of building distantly followed with 16 constructions or13.91 percent of the total non-residential building constructions. The total value for institutional buildings was estimated at PhP20.45 million with a total floor area of 2,988 square meters or an average cost of PhP6,845.35 per square meter. While that of Agricultural buildings was estimated at PhP23.84 million with a total floor area of 2,676 square meters or an average cost of PhP8,907.49 per square meter.

There were four constructions of agricultural building or 3.48 percent of the total non-residential building constructions. The total value for these projects during the second quarter of 2019 was estimated at PhP682 thousand with a total floor area of 236square meters or an average cost of PhP2,888.70 per square meter.

Those falling in the Others category accounted for 2.61 percent (three constructions) ofthetotal non-residential building constructions.These had an aggregate value of PhP905 thousand.

The above figure shows the percentage distribution of approved building permits issued by Local Building Officials of the city/municipalities of the province of La Union during thesecond quarter of2019.

The City of San Fernando registered the highest number of building construction projects with a share of 23.30percent (120constructions) from the 515issued building permits in La Union in thesecond quarter of2019. 

Other municipalities with high number of building construction projects inthe second quarter of2019 includeNaguilian with 94 constructions (18.25 percent share), San Juan with 50 constructions (9.71 percent share) and the municipality of Bauangwith 40 constructions (7.77 percent share).

In La Union, the City of San Fernandoranked top in terms of the value ofbuilding construction in the second quarterof 2019with a share of 29.99 percent (PhP207.93million) to the provincial total. The municipality of San Juan and Bauangranked second and third with shares of 12.68 percent (PhP87.88 million) and 10.02 percent (PhP69.48 million) respectively.

Similarly, the City of San Fernando had the highest total value of building construction projects among the city/municipalities of the provincein the second quarter of2018contributing 37.80 percent (PhP284.46million) to the provincial total. San Juan stillranked second with a share of 11.46 percent (PhP86.25million) whileNaguilian placed third with a share of9.41percent (PhP70.85million).

TECHNICAL NOTES

Scope and Coverage

            Private construction statistics from approved building permits pertain to data on new constructions and additions, alterations and repairs of existing residential and non-residential buildings and other structures undertaken in all city/municipalities of the country. 

            For this publication, its scope and coverage include the lone city and all municipalities in the province of La Union. 

Source of Information

            Data were taken from the original copies of application forms for building permit consequently approved byLocal Building Officials (LBOs) provincewide. These permits are collected monthly by PSA personnel.

Limitation

            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 submission of approved applications from the offices of the LBOs.  Hence, private building constructions without approved building permits are excluded in the tabulation of data.

Definition of Terms

Building Permitis a written authorization granted by the 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 (RA 6541).

Building is 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 from the foundation to the roof.

Residential Building is 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 is a complete structure intended for a single family or household, i. e. bungalow, two-storey house, nipa hut.

Duplex is 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 is a structure, usually of several storey made up of independent living quarters, with independent entrances from internal walls and courts.

Accessoria is a one or two-floor structure divided into several dwelling units having their own separate entrances from outside.

Other Residential Building consists of school or company staff houses, living quarters for drivers and maids and guardhouses.

Non-Residential Building includes commercial, industrial, agricultural and institutional buildings.

Commercial Building includes office buildings and all buildings which are intended for use primarily in wholesale, retail and service trades; i.e. stores, hotels, restaurants, banks, disco houses, etc.

Industrial Buildings are buildings which are used to house the production, assembly and warehousing activities of industrial establishments; i.e. factories, plants, mills, repair shops, machine shops, printing press, storage plant, electric generating plants.

Institutional Buildings are buildings which are primarily engaged in providing educational instructions and hospital/health care; ports, airports and other government buildings; i.e. schools, museums, libraries, sanitaria, churches, hospitals.

Agricultural Buildings are buildings which are used to house livestock, plants and agricultural products such as barn, poultry house, piggeries, stables, greenhouses and grain mill.

Other Non-Building Constructions include cemetery structures, street furniture, waiting sheds, communication towers, etc.

Addition refers to any new construction which increases the height or area of an existing building/structure.

Alteration refers to construction in a structure involving changes in the materials used, partitioning, location/size of openings, structural parts, existing utilities and equipment but does not increase the overall area thereof.

Repair refers to remedial work done on any damaged or deteriorated portion/s of a structure to restore its original condition.

Floor Area of Building refers to 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 refers to the sum of the costs of building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and others (labor). The value is taken from the approved building permit and represents the estimated value of the building or structure when completed.

SGD. NINO E. TUAZON

(Supervising Statistical Specialist)

Officer-in-Charge