Cebu housing summit 2026 to tackle industry challenges that threaten PH growth

CEBU CITY— Faced with a mounting national housing backlog and a chilling effect from global economic uncertainty, the Philippine housing sector is taking direct aim at the key bottlenecks stalling shelter delivery across the country.

The Subdivision and Housing Developers Association-Central Visayas (SHDA-CV) is set to convene its Housing Summit 2026 on September 11 at the Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu, gathering around 150 top executives, industry leaders, and policymakers, the annual conference comes at a critical juncture for real estate developers operating in Cebu and across the nation.

A sector in crisis, described SHDA-CV noting that the Philippine housing development sector remains burdened by a massive backlog estimated at 3.7 million units, a shortage that threatens to widen if systemic issues are not addressed immediately.

In Cebu, a premier urban center and key economic driver in the Visayas, the slowdown is already visible on the ground. Developers report significantly fewer project launches this year compared to previous periods.

While underlying demand for homes remains strong, market sentiment has been dampened by consumer hesitation linked to global economic volatility, including geopolitical tensions and fluctuating fuel prices.

Under the theme “Breaking Barriers, Building Forward: Accelerating Housing Development Through Regulatory Reform, Cost Resilience and Resource Security,” the summit addresses the dual threats crippling project timelines and buyer affordability, prolonged regulatory delays and escalating construction costs.

“We hold the Housing Summit usually every year. This year it’s different because there’s so much going on, especially the crisis,” said SHDA-CV President Ken Salimbangon.

While developers acknowledge the necessity of thorough government evaluations, they caution that lengthy licensing and approval processes keep much-needed housing units trapped in administrative pipelines rather than reaching families on the market.

To tackle these hurdles, Event Chair and SHDA Vice President Ronald Allan Uy highlighted five core focus areas for the conference including fair valuation, local competitiveness, real property valuation and assessment reform act, housing affordability, cost resilience and high-level industry and policy insights.

The summit brings together key government leaders and private sector stalwarts to chart a path forward especially on the subjects of taxation and economic policy with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Region 7 Director Douglas Rufino addressing taxation and regulatory roadblocks, while DEPDev regional directoro Jennifer Bretaña present the regional economic outlook.

Housing market dynamics to be tackled by Cebu Landmasters CEO Franco Soberano and prominent economist Dr. Winston Padojinog to examine local market conditions and shifting buyer trends.

Meanwhile, Megawide CEO Edgar Saavedra will tackle strategies for controlling construction costs to preserve affordability, and urban planning firm Palafox Associates to present sustainable, cost-effective design solutions.  SHDA National President Kerwin Padua was also invited to align regional efforts with national housing strategies.

Rather than serving as a mere talk shop, the 2026 summit aims to yield tangible legislative and policy influence. SHDA-CV plans to aggregate the key insights, regulatory pain points, and recommended reforms generated during the event into a comprehensive position paper.

This document will be submitted directly to national leadership as a unified voice from the housing sector, urging swift government intervention on regulatory streamlining to ensure affordable housing remains accessible to everyday Filipino families. (Photos: SHDA-CV)