09/12/2025
LOOK: REAL ESTATE SEES GROWTH IN PROVINCES, LUXURY SEGMENT BOOM IN NCR
The Philippine real estate sector is poised for growth in 2026 after a challenging 2025 marked by geopolitical tensions and local political issues that weighed on the country’s economic performance. According to Santos Knight Frank, the industry is entering a period of recovery driven largely by developments outside Metro Manila.
Chairman and CEO Rick Santos described the shift as a chance for transformation, saying,
“I think this is a time of great opportunity. Time for a reset, a repositioning in the market. I think real estate is always seen as a safe haven in times of trouble.”
Demand is rising across several provincial hubs—including Metro Cebu, Angeles, Bacolod, Iloilo, Davao, and Zamboanga—covering office spaces, residential projects, industrial parks, and hospitality developments. Developers have also become more aggressive in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Pampanga, and Bulacan as buyers look for cost-effective locations with strong growth potential.
With limited space left in Metro Manila, the capital’s main driver is the luxury property segment. Santos Knight Frank noted that developers continue launching high-end projects, a market that remains resilient even amid controversies like the flood control issue, which temporarily affected consumer sentiment.
Santos added that the premium segment will continue to thrive:
“There is demand for the high end residential market. There will continue to be demand—whether that’s from local investors, international investors… We don’t see any massive shifts in the market that could change the trajectory we’re all in.”
For 2026, growth prospects include the expansion of IT-BPM companies, the implementation of the 99-year land lease law attracting foreign investors, as well as the rising data center industry and new hotel chains entering the country. Upcoming projects include Canopy by Hilton in Makati, Sofitel Cebu, and the 1,530-room Mövenpick Manila Bay Westside.
This story originally appeared on the ABS-CBN News page. Graphics and edits by Destination PH.
