SHDA-CV calls for urgent reforms to tackle regional housing crisis

CEBU CITY— The Subdivision and Housing Developers Association – Central Visayas (SHDA-CV) Housing Summit 2026, called on key stakeholders and real estate developers, national government agencies, local municipalities, and utility providers across Central Visayas, to break down systemic delays and tackle the country’s deepening housing crisis and growing needs. 

Speaking at the conclusion of the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association – Central Visayas (SHDA-CV) Housing Summit 2026 on September 11 at Radisson Blu, SHDA-CV President Ken Salimbangon issued a rallying call for stronger public-private collaboration under the summit’s banner theme, “Breaking Barriers, Building Forward”. 

Highlighting the untapped potential of the regional real estate sector, Salimbangon outlined five critical takeaways aimed at transforming regional growth and driving sustainable community development.

Salimbangon said that while reaffirming support for government oversight and buyer protection, he emphasized that prolonged permit approvals, particularly for Licenses to Sell (LTS) and evolving policies under the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act (RPVARA) pose serious financial strains. 

"For developers, time has a real cost," Salimbangon noted, warning that delayed timelines inflate financing costs and reduce market supply, expenses that ultimately cascade down to home buyers. The industry’s call is not for less regulation, but for clear, predictable, and efficient governance. 

The region faces a severe shortage of affordable units, alongside significant national delivery gaps, with the local housing demand in Cebu City alone stands at 40,000 units, with even higher demands recorded in surrounding component cities and rural countryside areas.

Previous national campaign targets of delivering six million houses over six years, actual progress fell drastically short, with fewer than 500,000 units delivered, the Summit presentation noted.

Developers are required to fulfill a mandatory 15 percent counterpart requirement for socialized housing despite slim profit margins, Salimbangon told Manila Standard adding that in metropolitan areas, high land acquisition costs make single-family developments unsustainable, forcing developers toward Medium-Rise Buildings (MRB). Traditional lot developments remain viable primarily in countryside regions.

Addressing expanding urban centers, the summit highlighted the necessity of aligning housing projects with basic utility availability. Salimbangon urged national agencies, local government units (LGUs), and power and water providers to coordinate with developers early in the planning stage rather than reacting after infrastructure bottlenecks occur. 

“Synchronized infrastructure and utility planning is very important for developers and all key players in the industry,” he added.

In an economic landscape squeezed by rising fuel, material, labor, and logistics costs, homeownership is becoming increasingly difficult for the average Filipino family. Developers are challenged to look inward and adopt innovations in design, construction efficiency, and financing models to maintain quality without pushing price points out of reach. 

Salimbangon said that with infrastructure investments, carving out new economic centers, developers are encouraged to look beyond congested major hubs like metropolitan Cebu. By anticipating population shifts and establishing connected, eco-friendly, and livable communities in emerging corridors, the real estate sector can help shape, rather than merely follow balanced regional growth. 

The Summit underscored a unified public-private approach, underscoring that "no single sector can solve the housing challenge alone," SHDA-CV reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with government agencies to translate summit insights into actionable reforms. Recommended measures include streamlining local permitting processes, addressing infrastructure gaps early, and refining housing policy implementations.  

“What we are building is more than houses. We are building communities. We are building opportunities for families. And collectively, we are helping build the future of Central Visayas,” Salimbangon said in his closing message and reminded leaders that the ultimate goal extends far beyond physical construction.

With the summit concluded, SHDA-CV plans to submit specific policy recommendations to national and regional government bodies, ensuring the dialogue leads to tangible solutions for developers and home buyers alike. 

Policy recommendations are focused on accelerating LTS approvals, easing taxation burdens under the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act (RPVARA), and securing early utility integration to national and regional government bodies. (Photos: MBCNewman)