The future of Philippine housing will be shaped by more than the number of homes that can be built. It will also depend on how quickly projects move through government processes, how communities are connected to opportunities, how infrastructure is planned, and how well new developments reflect the way Filipino families live.
These themes came together at the 34th National Developers Convention of the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA), held September 16 to 17 at Marquis Events Place in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
34th SHDA National Developers Convention (2026)
More than 400 national policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, industry leaders, and other stakeholders attended the event. Under the theme “Elevate: Sustaining Progress through Collaboration and Strategic Housing Innovations,” the convention brought policy, market, design, and innovation discussions into one forum.
Its main outcome was the adoption of a seven-point resolution roadmap for a more responsive housing sector.
The resolutions, formally presented by SHDA Corporate Secretary Atty. Mena R. Ojeda Jr., cover several areas that affect how housing is planned, approved, built, and delivered.
SHDA will continue engaging with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), while also working to strengthen ease of doing business and participation in Technical Working Groups for the Joint Memorandum Circular involving 15 agencies on housing permitting and licensing.
The organization is also supporting the digitization of government-to-government processes and land-titling computerization. On taxation, the roadmap calls for stronger housing taxation efforts, including a review of the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act and land valuation.
The remaining priorities look at how communities are developed. SHDA wants stronger collaboration on affordable and sustainable housing and greater use of economic corridor opportunities, alongside planning for solid waste management, water, electricity, and connectivity.
The final point calls for new and innovative housing developments and interventions that respond to shifting social and economic conditions, demographics, housing preferences, and demand.
A number of sessions at the convention offered a closer look at the issues behind these priorities. Dr. Winston Conrad Padojinog, Senior Economist at CRC Foundation Inc. and Associate Professor at the University of Asia & the Pacific, presented a status report on the Collaborative Philippine Housing Roadmap 2025–2040.
[L-R] SHDA Chairman Engr. Francis Richmond Villegas, Asst. Corp. Secretary and 2026 National Developers Convention Chairperson Clarissa de Joya, and National President Kerwin V. Padua formally declared the opening of the two-day convention.
He cited progress in developer permitting, including a mandatory 15-day service-level agreement for License to Sell approvals, a zero-backlog initiative across regional offices, and 100% digital tracking for development permits. Other roadmap goals remain in progress.
Tax compliance and affordability were also discussed. Bureau of Internal Revenue Deputy Commissioner Atty. Larry Barcelo addressed tax issuances and compliance requirements, while Philippine Institute for Development Studies Vice President Dr. Marife Ballesteros examined housing affordability. Colliers Philippines Research Director Joey Bondoc provided an outlook on the property market beyond 2026.
Another part of the program focused on reducing friction in government transactions. Anti-Red Tape Authority Deputy Director General for Operations Undersecretary Dr. Lea Grace Salcedo presented JMC No. 1, s. 2026 under the National Effort for Harmonization of Efficient Measures of Inter-related Agencies, or NEHEMIA. The initiative aims to streamline housing processes and support an electronic housing one-stop shop.
The convention also covered land acquisition and conversion, digital government services, 4PH project processes, and eNotarization. Other discussions examined the Luzon Economic Corridor, waste management, circular economy practices, and electricity solutions.
Then came the question that ultimately matters to every housing market: what do people want from the communities they may eventually call home?
Philippine Survey Research Center Research Director Andrea Dizon shared findings showing that 61% of Filipinos planning to buy a house within the next three years prefer to live just outside the city. Seventy-eight percent cited opportunity as a consideration, while 57% preferred to live within 30 minutes of family.
The findings suggest a balance between urban access and residential space. Future buyers may be willing to live outside the city proper, but they still want to remain connected to work and other opportunities, while keeping family close.
Innovation sessions showed how the industry is beginning to respond. Jacinto C. Ng Jr., Founder and Group Executive Officer of Joy~Nostalg Group | Raemulan Lands Inc., discussed NING*NING, which created the world’s first grid-connected, utility-scale solar rooftop installation integrated into a socialized housing community.
Globe Telecom Vice President Abigail Cardino spoke about connectivity in modern homes and communities. GIGIL Founding Partner Badong Abesamis and Plus 63 Co-Founder Dan Matutina looked at creative strategy and design thinking and how these can help the industry engage with a modern generation of homebuyers.
The convention also looked at long-term city building. Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation Chief Operating Officer Enrique Manuel shared lessons from three decades of developing Bonifacio Global City, including long-term planning, infrastructure, estate management, and the district’s next stage of smart-city, mobility, and sustainability initiatives.
PGAA Creative Design Principal Archt. Paulo Alcazaren traced the evolution of Philippine subdivision planning and discussed more walkable and sustainable communities, with public spaces playing a stronger role.
SHDA leadership said the value of the convention will ultimately depend on what follows.
“A convention is only as good as what happens after it ends. These resolutions give our members, and the agencies we work with, something concrete to hold each other to,” SHDA Chairman Engr. Francis Richmond Villegas said.
Assistant Corporate Secretary and Convention Overall Chairperson Clarissa de Joya pointed to the specificity of the commitments made during the event, from permitting reforms and a formal review of property valuation law to discussions about shifting consumer behavior.
National President Kerwin Padua also emphasized follow-through. “Two days of dialogue mean nothing if we don’t act on them. These resolutions are how we make sure this convention outlasts the days it happened in,” he said.
SHDA said it will continue collaborating with DHSUD and key government partners, with the Convention Resolutions serving as a guide for public and private stakeholders.
For Philippine housing, the next chapter will be about turning these priorities into processes, projects, and communities that work better for the people who will eventually live in them.
2026 SHDA National Officers, Chapter Presidents, Board of Governors and Advisors
ABOUT THE SUBDIVISION AND HOUSING DEVELOPERS ASSOCIATION, INC. (SHDA)
The Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA), Inc. is the foremost industry association for housing and development in the Philippines. With 350 members nationwide and eight regional chapters, SHDA maintains strong connections among the country’s top players and a dynamic national network of small and medium developers.
As the largest and leading industry association for housing and urban development in the Philippines, SHDA has actively partnered with the nation’s housing policymakers, key shelter agencies, and stakeholders for over 50 years, thereby playing a pivotal role in developing and strengthening the industry’s capabilities. SHDA member developers are responsible for building 80% of the homes produced annually in the country, giving the organization unparalleled reach among Philippine homebuyers.
For more information, visit shda.ph.
