The total value of construction projects during the third quarter of 2012 rose 54.5 percent to P64.3 billion, as the number of new construction projects from approved building permits in

the country grew, according to the preliminary results of the Construction Statistics from Approved Building Permits released by the National Statistics Office (NSO).

The NSO said that this was higher compared to the P41.6 billion recorded during the third quarter of 2011.

The data showed that the value of new residential building constructions posted an increase of 54.1 percent, amounting to P31.3 billion from the P20.3 billion recorded during the same quarter of 2011.

Similarly, value of new non-residential building constructions soared 99.2 percent amounting to P28.2 billion from P14.2 billion registered during the third quarter of 2011, it noted.

The NSO data also stated that the combined value for additions, alterations and repairs of existing structures, estimated at P4.8 billion, declined by 32.6 percent from P7.2 billion registered during the same period of 2011.

Regionwise, the data added that the value of construction for Metro Manila consistently remained highest at P29.7 billion, accounting for a 46.1-percent share of the total value.

Calabarzon (Region 4), and Central Visayas (Region 7) ranked second and third with respective shares of 13.2 percent (P8.5 billion) and 12 percent (P7.7 billion).

This was followed by Central Luzon (Region 3) and Davao (Region 11) with construction value of P4.1 billion and P3.8 billion, respectively.

Meanwhile, the NSO data also showed that the number of new construction projects from approved building permits in the country grew 8.2 percent in the third quarter of 2012.

The data further said that a total count of 27,323 new construction projects was recorded in the third quarter of 2012. It was higher than the 25,255 construction projects recorded over the same quarter in 2011.

“Residential-type building with 19,523 new constructions went up by 7.5 percent from 18,154 during the same period of 2011. Likewise, non-residential constructions rose by 9.2 percent from 3,377 to 3,688 during the same period of last year,” it reported.

The NSO data also observed that among the regions, Calabarzon recorded the highest number of new building construction projects with 6,378, or 23.3 percent of the total. It was followed by Central Visayas with 3,407; Metro Manila with 3,320; Central Luzon with 2,543; and Davao with 2,222 construction projects.

Infrastructure spending
Meanwhile, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) recently reported that disbursements for infrastructure and other capital outlays (CO) from January to November reached P185.6 billion, or a 57-percent increase.

Also, the department said that maintenance and other operating expenditures (MOOE) grew by 49.7 percent to P226.5 billion.

“The strong showing of government spending on infrastructure and MOOE indicates that social and economic services are being delivered faster, better and with more impact to socioeconomic development. Just the same, we continue to work on strengthening public institutions and improving their capacity to deliver services,” Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said.

He said that infrastructure and other CO grew by P67.4 billion, or 57 percent because of the larger program for road infrastructure and irrigation projects by the departments of Public Works (DPWH) and of Agriculture (DA), respectively; and because of the faster execution of such projects.

He also said that project costing and procurement reforms introduced by DPWH have ensured that public funds are used “on the right projects, at the right cost and with the right quality.”

MOOE grew by P75.2 billion, or 49.7 percent from increased budgets for social protection and other poverty reduction programs.

Abad added that considerable budget releases were made in November alone, including almost P10 billion for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and other social welfare programs; as well as P3 billion each to Agriculture department and the Department of Education for their banner programs and projects.

 With report from Raadee S. Sausa