Construction and Housing Characteristics in Ilocos Norte

(Submitted by Alex R. Barut)

Construction Statistics

Number of building constructions

goes up to 17.17 percent

Building constructions based from the building permits collected in 2004 totaled 2,088, registering an increase of 17.17 percent from the figure in 2003 and 9.84 percent from that of 2002. Of the total constructions in 2004, more than three-fourths (77.25%) were residential buildings and the rest were non-residential constructions (8.04%), additions (5.94%), and alterations/repairs (8.76%). Almost the same proportions were also observed in 2002 and 2003.

Across city/municipalities, Laoag had the highest number of building constructions (515) in 2004, followed by Piddig (214) and Bacarra (184). In 2003, Laoag also had the highest number of constructions (461), followed by Bacarra (184) and San Nicolas (124).

Total value of constructions goes up

to 27.41 percent

The total building constructions in 2004 occupying a floor area of 192,607 square meters were estimated at P1.07 billion, which translates a value of P5,562 per square meter. Compared to the data in 2003, the total floor area, total value and value per square meter had increased by 13.79 percent, 27.41 percent and 1.97 percent, respectively. Similarly, the increase as compared to the figures in 2002 were 25.39 percent, 43.24 percent and 14.23 percent, respectively.

Most residential constructions are single type

Most residential constructions were single type. In 2004, 98.26 percent were single type, 0.87 percent were duplex/quadruplex, 0.62 percent were apartment/accessoria, and 0.25 percent were other types (school or company staff houses, living quarters for drivers or guardhouses). No residential condominiums were constructed. Similar proportions were also noted in 2002 and 2003).

The residential constructions in 2004 occupied a floor area of 159,792 square meters with an estimated value of P815 million, giving a per square meter value of P5,098. The value per square meter in 2004 is higher by 10.95 percent and 16.79 percent, respectively compared to the figures in 2003 and 2002.

About half of the non-residential constructions

are commercial buildings

In 2004, 41.67 percent of the non-residential constructions are commercial buildings, 18.45 percent were other types, 16.67 percent were agricultural and the rest were either institutional or industrial. The proportion of commercial buildings in 2002 and 2003 were 50.73 percent and 56.25 percent, respectively. Most of the commercial buildings are stores.

The non-residential constructions in 2004 covered a floor area of 24,276 and estimated at P145 million, translating a value of P5,984 per square meter. This per square meter value is higher by 16.92 percent and 12.82 percent, respectively compared to those in 2003 and 2002.

Housing Characteristics

Households prefer single house type of building

Table 8.B shows that, in 2000 the households preferred most (96.2%) the single house type of building as their dwelling units. The rest occupied duplex, multi-unit residential and other types. The ratio of household to occupied housing unit is one. This means that, in general, one household occupy one housing unit.

Seven out of ten occupied housing units need minor repair or no repair at all

In 2000, 71.48 percent of the occupied housing units needed minor or no repair at all, while 15.93 percent needed major repair. The rest were either unfinished construction, under construction, under renovation, dilapidated or condemned and other states.

Most (21.94%) of the occupied housing units were built from 1996 to 2000, followed by 1981 to 1990(20.98%).

More than half of the occupied housing units are made

up of strong materials for roof and walls

More than half (52.1%) of the occupied housing units were made up of concrete/brick/stone and 22.9 percent were made up of half concrete/brick/stoned and half wood. As to the construction materials of the roof, 86.3 percent were galvanized iron/aluminum.

One in four housing units occupies

30 to 49 square meters

In 2000, 26.93 percent of the occupied housing units had floor area of 30 to 49 square meters and 20.1 percent occupied 20 to 29 square meters. The median floor area was 39 square meters. In terms of the number of occupants, most housing units were occupied by four occupants (18.25%), followed by five occupants (17.72%) and six occupants (11.54%).

About three-fourths of the households own

or amortize their housing units

Of the 106,939 households, 72.11 percent of them owned or amortized the housing units they occupied in 2000 while 18.74 percent used the housing units rent-free with the consent of the owner.