Philippines' housing backlog swells amid economic boom

The Philippines is struggling with a worsening housing deficit despite solid economic growth and falling poverty levels, highlighting how rising prosperity has failed to translate into affordable homes, the Department of Economic Development and Planning (DepDev) said.

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At the 2025 National Housing Summit in Cebu, DepDev-Central Visayas Director Jennifer Bretaña said the region's housing backlog has climbed to more than 420,000 units, with only about 36 percent of demand addressed through licensed developments.

Most of the shortfall is concentrated in socialized and economic housing, underscoring the growing affordability gap for lowand middle-income families.

"The lack of affordable and decent housing remains one of the major barriers to achieving the Filipino aspiration of a 'maginhawa' or comfortable life," Bretaña said, citing "Ambisyon Natin 2040,"the government's long-term vision for a middle-class society.

The summit, organized by the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA)-Central Visayas, spotlighted structural constraints that have kept home prices high even in regions posting strong economic growth.