The way Filipinos think about home is changing. For many families, a good home is not simply a property with enough rooms. It also needs to be accessible, connected to opportunities, close to loved ones, and part of a community with dependable basic services.
That reality was one of the threads running through the 34th National Developers Convention of the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA), where housing developers, government agencies, financial institutions, and other stakeholders discussed what needs to happen next for the sector.
34th SHDA National Developers Convention (2026)
Held September 16 to 17 at Marquis Events Place in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, the convention gathered more than 400 participants. The event carried the theme “Elevate: Sustaining Progress through Collaboration and Strategic Housing Innovations.”
Its most concrete outcome was the adoption of a seven-point resolution roadmap aimed at accelerating housing delivery and making the sector more responsive.
Presented by SHDA Corporate Secretary Atty. Mena R. Ojeda Jr., the resolutions begin with a commitment to sustain engagement with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD). They also call for stronger ease-of-doing-business measures and continued participation in Technical Working Groups for the Joint Memorandum Circular involving 15 agencies on housing permitting and licensing.
For developers and homebuyers alike, reducing delays in government processes can have a direct effect on how quickly projects move. This is why the roadmap also supports digitizing government-to-government processes and computerizing land-titling procedures.
Housing taxation is included as another area for continued work, with SHDA calling for stronger efforts that include reviewing the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act and land valuation.
The roadmap also recognizes that housing cannot be separated from the wider community. It calls for greater collaboration on affordable and sustainable housing and for developers to maximize opportunities along economic corridors while planning for solid waste management, water, electricity, and connectivity.
The final priority is focused on innovation. SHDA wants new housing developments and interventions to respond to changes in social and economic conditions, demographics, preferences, and demand.
The discussions at the convention showed why these areas are important. Dr. Winston Conrad Padojinog, Senior Economist at CRC Foundation Inc. and Associate Professor at the University of Asia & the Pacific, reported on the Collaborative Philippine Housing Roadmap 2025–2040. He pointed to progress in streamlining developer permitting standards, including a mandatory 15-day service-level agreement for License to Sell approvals, a zero-backlog initiative across regional offices, and 100% digital tracking for development permits.
[L-R] SHDA Chairman Engr. Francis Richmond Villegas, Asst. Corp. Secretary and 2026 National Developers Convention Chairperson Clarissa de Joya, and National President Kerwin V. Padua formally declared the opening of the two-day convention.
Other speakers looked at the financial and market realities surrounding housing. Bureau of Internal Revenue Deputy Commissioner Atty. Larry Barcelo discussed tax issuances and compliance requirements. Philippine Institute for Development Studies Vice President Dr. Marife Ballesteros examined housing affordability, while Colliers Philippines Research Director Joey Bondoc discussed the property market beyond 2026.
There was also a strong focus on making government processes easier to navigate. Anti-Red Tape Authority Deputy Director General for Operations Undersecretary Dr. Lea Grace Salcedo presented JMC No. 1, s. 2026 under the National Effort for Harmonization of Efficient Measures of Inter-related Agencies, known as NEHEMIA. The initiative is intended to streamline housing processes and support an electronic housing one-stop shop.
Land acquisition and conversion, digital government services, 4PH project processes, and eNotarization were also covered. Discussions extended to the Luzon Economic Corridor, waste management, circular economy practices, and electricity solutions for communities.
The second day brought the discussion closer to the homebuyer. Philippine Survey Research Center Research Director Andrea Dizon presented findings that offer a glimpse into what future buyers are looking for. According to the research, 61% of Filipinos planning to purchase a house within the next three years prefer to live just outside the city.
The preference is not necessarily about moving away from urban life altogether. Accessibility and opportunity remain important. Seventy-eight percent cited opportunity as a consideration, while 57% said they prefer to live within 30 minutes of family.
The picture that emerges is of a home that offers more space without becoming disconnected from the places and people that matter. That could mean communities near city corridors, with access to work and services and enough room for families to grow.
The convention also featured examples of how innovation can become part of housing development. Jacinto C. Ng Jr., Founder and Group Executive Officer of Joy~Nostalg Group | Raemulan Lands Inc., discussed NING*NING and its grid-connected, utility-scale solar rooftop installation integrated into a socialized housing community.
Globe Telecom Vice President Abigail Cardino highlighted connectivity as an important part of modern homes and communities. GIGIL Founding Partner Badong Abesamis and Plus 63 Co-Founder Dan Matutina discussed creative strategy and design thinking, particularly in reaching a new generation of homebuyers.
Long-term planning was another theme. Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation Chief Operating Officer Enrique Manuel shared lessons from three decades of developing Bonifacio Global City, including infrastructure, estate management, planning, mobility, smart-city initiatives, and sustainability.
PGAA Creative Design Principal Archt. Paulo Alcazaren looked back at the evolution of Philippine subdivision planning and discussed the value of more walkable communities, sustainable design, and stronger public spaces.
SHDA leadership emphasized that the convention should be measured by what follows it.
“A convention is only as good as what happens after it ends. These resolutions give our members, and the agencies we work with, something concrete to hold each other to,” said SHDA Chairman Engr. Francis Richmond Villegas.
Clarissa de Joya, Assistant Corporate Secretary and Convention Overall Chairperson, said the event was notable for the specificity of the commitments made. She cited permitting reforms, a formal review of property valuation law, and new insights into consumer behavior as areas that can help move the housing conversation forward.
National President Kerwin Padua also called for action after the convention. “Two days of dialogue mean nothing if we don’t act on them. These resolutions are how we make sure this convention outlasts the days it happened in,” he said.
SHDA said it will continue working with DHSUD and other government partners as the seven-point resolutions are carried forward. The goal is not simply to build more homes, but to help shape housing communities that are more accessible, sustainable, connected, and responsive to the needs of Filipino families.
2026 SHDA National Officers, Chapter Presidents, Board of Governors and Advisors
ABOUT THE SUBDIVISION AND HOUSING DEVELOPERS ASSOCIATION, INC. (SHDA)
The Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA), Inc. is the foremost industry association for housing and development in the Philippines. With 350 members nationwide and eight regional chapters, SHDA maintains strong connections among the country’s top players and a dynamic national network of small and medium developers.
As the largest and leading industry association for housing and urban development in the Philippines, SHDA has actively partnered with the nation’s housing policymakers, key shelter agencies, and stakeholders for over 50 years, thereby playing a pivotal role in developing and strengthening the industry’s capabilities. SHDA member developers are responsible for building 80% of the homes produced annually in the country, giving the organization unparalleled reach among Philippine homebuyers.
For more information, visit shda.ph.