Philippine Property Market: Senate Housing Bills Advance, Transparency Gap Persists
Legislative action on housing meets fresh scrutiny of market transparency and redevelopment rules
Written by PropVela Editorial TeamPublished 2 min read
This week's roundup covers major movement on housing legislation, a sobering look at how the Philippines stacks up globally on real estate transparency, and a proposed law that could reshape Makati's aging condo stock.
Senate OKs bills enhancing access to affordable housing
The Senate approved a package of housing measures this week aimed at making homeownership and rental housing more accessible to Filipinos. Senators voted 17-0-0 to pass the Urban Development and Housing Act, which strengthens government powers to acquire and use land for socialized housing. Lawmakers also unanimously passed bills supporting rental housing subsidies and incentives for low-income households, plus a measure cancelling housing debts for calamity survivors. According to BusinessWorld, the bills now await further legislative action before becoming law.
Philippines trails regional peers in real estate transparency
The Philippines placed 47th out of 88 markets in the 2026 Global Real Estate Transparency Index from JLL and LaSalle Investment Management, scoring 2.94 out of 5 and landing in the “semi-transparent” tier alongside Indonesia and Vietnam. That puts the country well behind Southeast Asian neighbors Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia in overall ranking. According to BusinessWorld, the findings highlight ongoing gaps in market data, governance, and regulatory clarity compared to regional competitors.
Condo redevelopment bill to unlock urban renewal, revive Makati market — LPC
A pending Senate bill that eases approval thresholds for redeveloping old condominiums could spark renewed investment in Makati's central business district, according to Leechiu Property Consultants. Analyst Miguel Galvez noted that aging condos in prime locations make up roughly 26.2 percent of Makati's tracked buildings, far above the nationwide average of about 3 percent, giving the city the most to gain. He added that a clearer redevelopment framework would make these aging, land-rich assets more attractive to developers looking to recycle underused sites. According to Context.ph, the measure could reshape how older urban properties are valued and repositioned across Metro Manila.