The total number of new construction projects from approved building permits in 2021 was recorded at 3,525, reflecting an increase of 252.50 percent from 1,000 constructions a year ago.

The total floor area occupied for the new construction projects also increased by 114.42 percent from 166,546 square meters in 2020 to 357,114 square meters in 2021. Meanwhile, the value of new construction projects was recorded at PhP3,880.20 million in 2021, posting an increase of 108.65 percent from PhP1,859.65 million a year ago.

By type of construction, residential buildings accounted the highest share in terms of value in 2021. The cost of constructing residential buildings increased by 197.67 percent with an estimated value of PhP2,617.20 million from PhP879.23 million a year ago.

Moreover, the value of constructing non-residential buildings also increased by 16.45 percent in 2021 amounting to PhP1,057.16 million from PhP907.86 million in 2020.

Furthermore, the value of additions, repairs, renovations and demolitions of existing buildings increased to PhP205.85 million in 2021 from PhP72.56 million a year ago, posting an increase of 183.68 percent.

The figure above shows the distribution of approved building permits by city/municipality in La Union in 2021.

Among the city/municipalities, the municipality of Bauang registered the highest number of construction projects with a share of 35.63 percent (1,256 constructions) to the total approved building permits in La Union in 2021.  Compared with the number of constructions a year ago (45 building constructions), it registered a huge increase of 2,691.11 percent.

Other city/municipalities with high number of construction projects in 2021 included City of San Fernando with 485 constructions (13.76 percent share), Naguilian with 377 constructions (10.70 percent share) and San Juan with 27 constructions (6.44 percent share).

In La Union, the City of San Fernando occupied the top rank in terms of the value of constructions in 2021 with a share of 28.63 percent (PhP1,110.91 million) to the provincial total. The municipality of Bacnotan ranked second with a share of 11.83 percent (PhP458.87 million) and Rosario ranked third with a share of 11.70 percent (PhP454.06 million).

Meanwhile, the municipality of Agoo had the highest value of construction projects among the city/municipalities in 2020 contributing 24.96 percent (PhP464.12 million) to the provincial total. City of San Fernando ranked second with a share of 19.80 percent (PhP368.20 million) while Bacnotan placed third with a share of 6.72 percent (PhP124.93 million).

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, the scope and coverage are all city/municipalities in La Union. 

Source of Information

            Data were taken from the original application forms of approved building permits collected every month by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) field personnel from the offices of Local Building Officials (LBOs) provincewide.

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 collection of applications filed with the LBOs.  Hence, private building constructions without approved building permits are excluded in the tabulation of data.

Definition of Terms

Building Permit is 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.

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 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.

SGD. DANITES E. TEÑIDO, Ph.D.
Chief Statistical Specialist

/KJGH