Philippine Property Market: Condo Cancellations, Infrastructure Gaps, and Business Sentiment in Focus
Brokers question condo cancellation data as analysts link provincial growth to infrastructure delivery
Written by PropVela Editorial TeamPublished 2 min read
Today's roundup looks at a brewing debate over condo cancellation figures, the infrastructure factor behind provincial property growth, and the latest read on business confidence as the year winds down.
ABREP questions Metro Manila condo cancellation figures
Industry group ABREP is pushing back on a widely cited statistic — that roughly 9,000 Metro Manila condo purchases were cancelled this year — arguing the number needs more context before it can be taken as a reliable market signal. ABREP president Anthony Leuterio wants to see the underlying methodology and transaction data behind the figure, which reportedly came from Colliers Philippines and covers both units still under construction and completed, ready-for-occupancy projects. Without that breakdown, he said, it's hard to tell how much of the trend is tied to buyers struggling with financing. According to Philstar.com (The Freeman), Colliers' research director had cited around 5,200 pre-selling and 3,800 completed units as cancelled in the first nine months of the year.
Infrastructure delivery key to provincial property expansion — analysts
Research heads from Savills, Colliers, and JLL Philippines agree that the pace of public infrastructure rollout will largely determine how fast property markets outside Metro Manila can grow. Colliers' Joey Roi Bondoc warned that stalled government projects risk cooling private investment appetite in these areas, while JLL's Janlo de los Reyes noted that developers are increasingly coordinating directly with local governments to align infrastructure needs for township developments. The discussion followed a recent World Bank report examining how the Philippines can better unlock growth across its urban corridors. According to BusinessWorld Online, the analysts see coordinated planning as essential to sustaining momentum beyond the capital.
Philippine firms' outlook turns less upbeat in September
Business confidence softened slightly heading into year-end, with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' latest survey showing the three-month-ahead sentiment index slipping to 20.9% in September amid ongoing economic headwinds. Even so, the central bank noted that firms remain hopeful about growth prospects in specific sectors, including real estate development alongside healthcare, education, tourism, financial services, and trade. The dip suggests near-term caution even as longer-term optimism persists in select industries. According to BusinessWorld Online, the BSP's Business Expectations Survey remains a key gauge of corporate sentiment across sectors.